Altered Functional Network Energy Across Multiscale Brain Networks in Preterm vs. Full-Term Subjects: Insights from
Insights
Preterm birth alters adolescent brain connectivity, showing less dynamic functional networks. Full-term infants exhibit more flexible brain networks, impacting development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Brain Connectivity Research
Background:
- Preterm birth can lead to incomplete brain development, causing lasting structural and functional brain differences.
- Altered brain connectivity is a key characteristic observed in individuals born prematurely.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate functional network energy across multiscale functional connectivity in adolescents born preterm versus full-term.
- To identify specific brain networks exhibiting differences in energy and organization between these groups.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of functional network energy in approximately 4600 adolescents from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study.
- Comparison of network energy and functional organization in preterm and full-term born subjects.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in network energy were found in the visual, sensorimotor, and high cognitive networks.
- Full-term subjects displayed more dynamic and flexible brain networks compared to preterm subjects.
- Preterm subjects showed more stable but less dynamic functional brain organization.
Conclusions:
- Multiscale functional network energy analysis provides insights into the stability of canonical brain networks in preterm individuals.
- Early birth impacts the dynamic and flexible organization of key brain networks throughout adolescence.
- Findings contribute to understanding the long-term effects of preterm birth on brain development.
Abstract:
Infants born prematurely, or preterm, can experience altered brain connectivity, due in part to incomplete brain development at the time of parturition. Research has also shown structural and functional differences in the brain that persist in these individuals as they enter adolescence when compared to peers who were fully mature at birth. In this study, we examined functional network energy across multiscale functional connectivity in approximately 4600 adolescents from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study who were either preterm or full term at birth. We identified three key brain networks that show significant differences in network energy between preterm and full-term subjects. These networks include the visual network (comprising the occipitotemporal and occipital subnetworks), the sensorimotor network, and the high cognitive network (including the temporoparietal and frontal subnetworks). Additionally, it was demonstrated that full-term subjects exhibit greater instability, leading to more dynamic reconfiguration of functional brain information and increased flexibility across the three identified canonical brain networks compared to preterm subjects. In contrast, those born prematurely show more stable networks but less dynamic and flexible organization of functional brain information within these key canonical networks. In summary, measuring multiscale functional network energy offered insights into the stability of canonical brain networks associated with subjects born prematurely. These findings enhance our understanding of how early birth impacts brain development.
