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Updated: Jul 29, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
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Neonatal brain dynamic functional connectivity in term and preterm infants and its association with early childhood

Lucas G S França1,2,3, Judit Ciarrusta1,2, Oliver Gale-Grant1,2

  • 1Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK.

Nature Communications
|February 8, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Brain dynamic functional connectivity is established at birth. Atypical patterns in preterm infants are linked to later behavioral differences, offering insights into early neurodevelopment and autism risk.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Brain Imaging

Background:

  • Dynamic functional connectivity describes changing brain region interactions.
  • Atypical connectivity patterns are linked to neurodevelopmental conditions like autism.
  • Early development of dynamic functional connectivity in neonates is poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize dynamic functional connectivity in the early postnatal period.
  • To compare connectivity patterns between term-born and preterm-born infants.
  • To investigate the association between early dynamic connectivity and later behavioral outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess brain connectivity.
  • Data were collected from term-born (n=324) and preterm-born (n=66) infants.
  • Behavioral assessments (Q-CHAT) were conducted at 18 months of age.

Main Results:

  • A dynamic landscape of functional connectivity, with six transient states, is present at birth.
  • Preterm-born infants exhibit atypical dynamic connectivity patterns compared to term-born infants.
  • Atypical neonatal dynamic connectivity is associated with later atypical social, sensory, and repetitive behaviors.

Conclusions:

  • Dynamic functional connectivity is established early in human brain development.
  • Preterm birth is associated with altered early brain connectivity.
  • Early atypical connectivity may serve as a biomarker for neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism.

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