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Updated: Sep 8, 2025
Preterm EEG: A Multimodal Neurophysiological Protocol
Published on: February 18, 2012
Alterations in EEG functional connectivity in preterm infants: A systematic review
Jiaqi Li1, Chunjie Jiang1, Xin Xu2
1Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai 201102, China.
Insights
Prematurity alters infant brain network development, impacting functional connectivity and network maturation. These changes, observed via electroencephalography, may have long-term effects on cognitive and motor outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Computational Neuroscience
Background:
- Premature birth (<37 weeks gestation) poses risks to neurodevelopment.
- Early brain network maturation is crucial for long-term cognitive and motor function.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) offers insights into functional brain connectivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- Synthesize evidence on EEG-based functional connectivity in preterm infants.
- Clarify how prematurity affects early brain network maturation.
- Identify patterns of altered brain connectivity in preterm neonates.
Main Methods:
- PRISMA-guided literature search (PubMed, Web of Science).
- Included 24 studies quantifying resting-state functional connectivity or graph-theory metrics.
- Assessed study quality using a six-item EEG-functional connectivity checklist.
Main Results:
- Neonatal functional connectivity varied by frequency band, postmenstrual age, and behavioral state.
- Trends included decreasing delta-band coherence and increasing frontal theta synchrony.
- Preterm infants showed altered network topology, with higher clustering and lower efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Prematurity induces lasting alterations in brain network segregation-integration balance.
- Frequency-specific coupling changes correlate with later cognitive and motor outcomes.
- Methodological heterogeneity and small sample sizes limit cross-study comparisons.
Objective:
To synthesise current evidence on electroencephalography-based functional connectivity in preterm infants and clarify how prematurity alters early brain-network maturation.
Methods:
A PRISMA-guided search (PubMed and Web of Science, inception-Mar 2025) identified 24 studies that quantified resting-state functional connectivity or graph-theory metrics in infants born <37 weeks' gestation. Study quality was rated with a six-item electroencephalography-functional connectivity checklist (reference montage, epoch length/number, artefact rejection, volume-conduction control, multiple-comparison correction).
Results:
Across studies, neonatal functional connectivity development showed patterns that varied by frequency band, postmenstrual age, and behavioural state. Reported trends included decreasing delta-band coherence with advancing postmenstrual age, increasing frontal theta synchrony, and sleep-state differences in which active sleep more often featured focal high-frequency coupling, whereas quiet sleep involved broader low-frequency integration. Some longitudinal and follow-up studies suggested beta-band connectivity alterations and changes in network topology that may persist into adolescence or adulthood. Graph-theoretical analyses generally described a shift from neonatal small-world organization toward greater segregation, although preterm groups in several studies showed higher clustering and lower efficiency than controls. Methodological heterogeneity was notable, with only one study fulfilling all quality criteria; common limitations included low-density montages (≤ 32 channels) and lack of multiple-comparison control.
Conclusions:
Prematurity induces lasting alterations in segregation-integration balance and frequency-specific coupling that relate to later cognitive and motor outcomes. Methodological heterogeneity and small samples, however, limit cross-study comparability.
