Concurrent and prospective associations between infant frontoparietal and default mode network connectivity and
Sanjana Ravi1, M Catalina Camacho2, Brooke Fleming1
1Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Place, #552, Nashville, TN 37204, USA.
Biological Psychology
|November 4, 2023
Summary
Infant brain connectivity, specifically within the default mode network (DMN), is linked to later emotional regulation. Greater DMN connectivity in newborns predicted lower negative affectivity and crying in early childhood.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Emotion dysregulation is associated with altered frontoparietal network (FPN) and default mode network (DMN) functioning.
- Temperamental negative affectivity may precede emotion dysregulation, but the neurodevelopmental basis is unclear.
- Early identification of neurodevelopmental precursors to emotion dysregulation is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between infant brain connectivity (FPN and DMN) and temperamental negative affectivity.
- To explore concurrent and prospective associations between resting-state functional connectivity and measures of negative affectivity in infants.
- To advance a neurodevelopmental model of emotion dysregulation.
Main Methods:
- Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess FPN and DMN connectivity in 72 infants (aged ~1 month).
- Parent-reported crying and negative affectivity, along with audio recordings of crying, were collected.
- Internalizing symptoms were assessed at 18 months.
Main Results:
- Contrary to hypotheses, greater DMN intranetwork connectivity at 1 month was associated with lower parent-reported crying and negative affectivity at 6 months.
- DMN intranetwork connectivity also showed a negative association with internalizing symptoms at 18 months.
- No significant associations were found between FPN connectivity and negative affectivity measures.
Conclusions:
- Infant DMN connectivity at rest is associated with later emotional functioning, suggesting a neurodevelopmental pathway for emotion regulation.
- These findings contribute to understanding the early neural underpinnings of emotion dysregulation.
- Future research should explore the predictive value of infant brain connectivity for emotional development.
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