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Maternal prenatal social disadvantage and neonatal functional connectivity: Associations with psychopathology

Max P Herzberg1, Ashley N Nielsen2, Rebecca Brady2

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis.

Developmental Psychology
|February 22, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Maternal prenatal social disadvantage impacts infant brain connectivity, affecting behavior. Early life socioeconomic factors influence neurodevelopment and may guide future interventions for better infant outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Socioeconomic status (SES) influences neurobehavioral development from infancy.
  • Prenatal exposure to disadvantage is linked to altered brain development.
  • Understanding early life socioeconomic impacts is crucial for intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between maternal prenatal social disadvantage (PSD) and neonatal brain functional connectivity.
  • To determine if altered functional connectivity predicts infant behavior at 12 months.
  • To examine the role of the prenatal socioeconomic environment on infant neurobehavioral outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed PSD across gestation in 261 mother-infant dyads.
  • Utilized neonatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within weeks of birth.
  • Evaluated infant internalizing and externalizing symptoms at 12 months using the Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment.

Main Results:

  • PSD was significantly associated with neonatal functional connectivity of the right amygdala and left hippocampus with prefrontal and motor regions.
  • Altered functional connectivity in these areas predicted infant externalizing and internalizing symptoms at 12 months.
  • Findings highlight the prenatal environment's role in shaping infant brain function and behavior.

Conclusions:

  • The prenatal socioeconomic environment significantly impacts neonatal brain functional connectivity.
  • Early life socioeconomic factors predict infant behavioral outcomes.
  • The prenatal environment is a potential target for interventions to improve infant neurobehavioral development.

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