Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
07:36
Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Published on: November 20, 2015
11.3K
Pain Exposure and Brain Connectivity in Preterm Infants
Thiviya Selvanathan1,2, Steven Ufkes1,3, Ting Guo2
1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
JAMA Network Open
|March 15, 2024
Summary
Early-life pain exposure in preterm infants affects brain connectivity maturation, especially in females. These brain changes are linked to later neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neuroscience
- Developmental psychology
- Pediatric neurology
Background:
- Early-life painful procedures in preterm infants can impact brain development and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Sex-specific differences in these effects are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex-specific associations between early-life pain exposure, neonatal brain structural connectivity, and 18-month neurodevelopment in very preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 193 very preterm infants.
- Structural connectivity assessed using magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging.
- Neurodevelopment evaluated at 18 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition.
Main Results:
- Sex-specific effects observed: greater early-life pain was linked to slower maturation of global and local brain efficiency in female infants.
- In the full cohort, increased pain exposure correlated with reduced global and local efficiency and regional connection strength.
- Specific alterations in the striatum's connection strength were associated with cognitive outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Early-life pain exposure is associated with altered brain structural connectivity maturation in very preterm infants, with notable sex-specific differences in females.
- These connectivity alterations are linked to neurodevelopmental outcomes, suggesting potential regional impacts.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Neurulation
Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...
01:29Blood and Nerve Supply to the Bones
Bones are dynamic organs that require a rich supply of oxygen and nutrients. Around 5% to 10% of the cardiac output supplies blood to the bones. A typical long bone has three main sources: the nutrient artery, the metaphyseal and epiphyseal arteries, and the periosteal arteries.
Nutrient Artery
The nutrient artery is the main blood vessel that enters the diaphysis via the nutrient foramen. While most long bones have only one nutrient foramen, large bones, such as the femur, may have two. This...
Nutrient Artery
The nutrient artery is the main blood vessel that enters the diaphysis via the nutrient foramen. While most long bones have only one nutrient foramen, large bones, such as the femur, may have two. This...
01:07Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
01:20Pain
Pain serves as a critical warning signal that alerts the body to potential or actual harm. When mechanical pressure on the skin is intense, such as from a sharp pinch, the sensation transitions from touch to pain. Similarly, extreme temperatures, like a hot pot handle, convert the sensation of heat into pain. Pain can also result from overstimulation of other senses, such as blinding light, loud noise, or the intense heat from habañero peppers. This ability to sense pain is essential for...