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Updated: Jul 31, 2025

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

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Longitudinal neonatal brain development and socio-demographic correlates of infant outcomes following preterm birth

Lucy Vanes1, Sunniva Fenn-Moltu2, Laila Hadaya3

  • 1Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom; Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, United Kingdom.

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
|May 7, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Infants born preterm face higher risks for behavioral issues. Longitudinal brain imaging reveals that cerebellar volume and sensorimotor connectivity predict better psychomotor skills, while subcortical volume changes link to psychopathology.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Preterm birth exposes the developing brain to an extrauterine environment during a critical neurodevelopmental period.
  • Infants born preterm exhibit an increased risk for adverse behavioral outcomes later in life.
  • Understanding the neurodevelopmental trajectory following preterm birth is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the longitudinal development of neonatal regional brain volume and functional connectivity in preterm infants.
  • To investigate the relationships between brain development, sociodemographic factors, and psychomotor/psychopathology outcomes at toddlerhood.
  • To identify neuroimaging and environmental predictors of behavioral development in preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on 121 preterm infants shortly after birth, at term-equivalent age, or both.
  • Longitudinal regional brain volume and functional connectivity were modeled in relation to psychopathology and psychomotor outcomes at 18 months.
  • Sociodemographic factors, including socioeconomic status and parenting, were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Greater relative right cerebellar volume and a faster decrease in sensorimotor network connectivity predicted better psychomotor functioning.
  • A faster decrease in relative regional subcortical volume was associated with increased psychopathology.
  • Socioeconomic deprivation impacted both psychopathology and psychomotor outcomes, while stimulating parenting uniquely predicted psychopathology.

Conclusions:

  • Longitudinal neuroimaging is vital for predicting toddler behavioral outcomes in preterm infants.
  • Environmental factors like socioeconomic status and parenting quality differentially influence specific aspects of behavioral development.
  • Early brain development trajectories in preterm infants are linked to later behavioral and psychopathological outcomes.

Keywords:
Degree centralityLongitudinal imagingPreterm birthPsychomotor functioningPsychopathologyRegional volume

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