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A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance
09:01

A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance

Published on: May 7, 2014

Growth in early infancy drives optimal brain functional connectivity which predicts cognitive flexibility in later

Chiara Bulgarelli1,2, Anna Blasi2, Samantha McCann3,4

  • 1Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom.

Elife
|June 5, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Early infant growth significantly impacts brain network development and predicts cognitive flexibility in preschoolers. This highlights the critical need for early life interventions in adversity-affected regions.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Global Health

Background:

  • Functional brain network organization (functional connectivity/FC) is crucial for healthy neurodevelopment.
  • Early life adversity, such as undernutrition, disrupts neurodevelopment and leads to poorer long-term outcomes.
  • Understanding the impact of early growth on brain development is vital for identifying effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To longitudinally assess the impact of early growth trajectories on functional connectivity (FC) development.
  • To investigate the relationship between early developmental FC and later cognitive flexibility.
  • To examine brain development patterns in a rural Gambian population from infancy to preschool age.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal assessment of functional connectivity (FC) in infants aged 5-24 months.
  • Assessment of cognitive flexibility in children aged 3-5 years.
  • Analysis of early physical growth trajectories and their correlation with brain development.

Main Results:

  • Early physical growth before 5 months of age was associated with optimal developmental trajectories of functional connectivity (FC).
  • Optimal FC development predicted better cognitive flexibility at preschool age.
  • The Gambian sample showed age-related decreases in long-range interhemispheric FC, differing from other populations.

Conclusions:

  • Poor early infant growth has measurable effects on brain development and subsequent cognitive outcomes.
  • Early life interventions targeting growth are crucial for improving brain development and cognitive function in vulnerable populations.
  • Findings underscore the need for global early life interventions in settings of adversity.

Keywords:
adversityfNIRSfunctional connectivityglobal healthgrowth trajectoriesneurodevelopmentneurosciencenone

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