Altered functional connectivity during face processing in children born with very low birth weight
Julie Sato1,2,3, Kristina Safar1,3, Marlee M Vandewouw1,3,4,5
1Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada.
Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
|June 5, 2021
Summary
Very low birth weight (VLBW) children exhibit altered brain network connectivity for processing angry faces, impacting emotion recognition. This theta-band network difference suggests potential socio-emotional challenges in VLBW individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Preterm birth is linked to structural brain changes in emotional processing regions.
- Functional network alterations in very low birth weight (VLBW) children remain understudied.
- Understanding face processing networks is crucial for VLBW child development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate functional brain networks in VLBW children during implicit emotional face processing.
- To compare network activity between VLBW and full-term (FT) children using magnetoencephalography (MEG).
- To explore the relationship between network function and behavioral affect recognition.
Main Methods:
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG) was used to record brain activity in 5-year-old children.
- Implicit processing of happy and angry faces was assessed in VLBW (n=28) and FT (n=24) groups.
- Theta-band (4-7 Hz) functional connectivity was analyzed.
Main Results:
- VLBW children showed reduced theta-band connectivity in response to angry faces compared to FT children.
- This hypo-connectivity was localized to left orbitofrontal and parietal regions.
- FT children demonstrated higher affect recognition scores, correlating positively with theta-band network recruitment.
Conclusions:
- VLBW children exhibit atypical theta-band network function in processing angry faces, potentially impacting social functioning.
- Theta oscillations play a significant role in early face and emotion processing.
- Deficits in these networks may contribute to socio-emotional impairments in VLBW populations.
