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A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance
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Growth in early infancy drives optimal brain functional connectivity which predicts cognitive flexibility in later

Chiara Bulgarelli1,2, Anna Blasi2, Samantha McCann3,4

  • 1Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, UK.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|January 23, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Early infant growth significantly impacts brain network development and predicts cognitive flexibility in preschoolers. This highlights the critical need for early interventions in adversity-affected regions.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Global Health

Background:

  • Functional brain network organization, measured by functional connectivity (FC), is crucial for healthy neurodevelopment.
  • Early adversity, such as undernutrition, disrupts neurodevelopment and FC, leading to poorer long-term outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To longitudinally assess the impact of early growth trajectories on developmental FC in a rural Gambian population (5-24 months).
  • To examine the relationship between early growth-driven FC trajectories and cognitive flexibility at preschool age (3-5 years).

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal assessment of functional connectivity (FC) from 5 to 24 months of age.
  • Assessment of cognitive flexibility at 3-5 years in a rural Gambian cohort.
  • Analysis of early physical growth trajectories (before 5 months) and their association with FC development.

Main Results:

  • Early physical growth before 5 months was associated with optimal developmental trajectories of functional connectivity (FC).
  • These optimal FC trajectories predicted better cognitive flexibility at preschool age.
  • The Gambian sample showed decreasing long-range interhemispheric FC with age, differing from other populations.

Conclusions:

  • Early infant growth profoundly influences brain development and subsequent cognitive outcomes.
  • Disrupted early growth negatively impacts brain network organization and preschool cognitive abilities.
  • Interventions targeting early life growth are essential in global settings facing adversity.

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