Prenatal Adversity and Neonatal Brain Connectivity Relate to Emerging Executive Function at Age 2 Years.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Early life adversity can disrupt brain development and executive function (EF).
• The specific impact of prenatal adversity on neonatal white matter (WM) microstructure and its relation to emerging EF is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between prenatal adversity (social disadvantage and maternal stress) and emerging EF in toddlers.
• To examine the role of neonatal WM microstructure and resting-state functional connectivity (rs-fc) in mediating or moderating this relationship.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 164 infants with prenatal assessments of social disadvantage and maternal stress.
• Neonatal diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and rs-fc MRI scans were acquired.
• Children's EF was assessed at age 2 years using the Minnesota Executive Function Scale.

Main Results:

• Prenatal social disadvantage (PSD) was associated with poorer emerging EF.
• WM microstructure, including fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) in specific tracts (corpus callosum, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, corticospinal tract, uncinate), correlated with EF outcomes.
• No significant moderation or mediation effects were found for WM microstructure in the relationship between PSD and EF. rs-fc findings were not significant after correction.

Conclusions:

• Prenatal social disadvantage is linked to impaired emerging executive function.
• Neonatal white matter microstructure independently relates to executive function development.
• Interventions supporting prenatal social welfare may benefit neonatal brain and early neurodevelopmental outcomes.