Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2025

Generation of iPSC-derived Human Brain Organoids to Model Early Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Published on: April 14, 2017
The overgrowth of structure-function coupling in premature brain during infancy
Rong Wang1, Tianyu Fang1, Yue Zhang1
1Medical School,Faculty of Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China; Haihe Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interaction and Human-Machine Integration, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neuroengineering, Tianjin, China.
Preterm infants show altered brain development, with faster structure-function coupling growth than full-term infants. This study reveals differences in early brain development and information processing in preterm infants.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Infant brain development involves rapid growth in structure and function.
- The coupling between brain structure and function in infants is not well understood.
- Understanding this coupling is crucial for identifying developmental trajectories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the coupling between brain structure and function in infants.
- To examine how prematurity affects this structure-function coupling.
- To quantify developmental patterns in preterm infants' brains.
Main Methods:
- Utilized multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from the developing Human Connectome Project (dHCP) database.
- Analyzed coupling patterns across different brain regions, including unimodal and transmodal cortices.
- Compared structure-function coupling in preterm and full-term infants at term-equivalent age.
Main Results:
- A similar pattern of coupling distribution was observed in both preterm and full-term infants.
- Coupling varied across specific brain regions like visual, sensorimotor, and default mode network.
- Preterm infants exhibited widespread overgrowth of structure-function coupling.
- Preterm infants showed a slower developmental trajectory compared to full-term infants.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully quantified structure-function relationships in the developing brains of preterm infants.
- Findings offer new insights into information transmission processes in the early-life brain.
- Highlights the impact of prematurity on brain development and functional connectivity.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Teratogenicity
Neuroplasticity
Neurulation
Organization of the Brain
Hindbrain
The hindbrain, located at the base of the brain, plays a vital role in regulating automatic processes that sustain life. It includes the medulla oblongata, which is essential for...
Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development
Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...

