Very preterm brain at rest: longitudinal social–cognitive network connectivity during childhood. Issue 4 (16th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mossad, Sarah I; Young, Julia M; Wong, Simeon M; Dunkley, Benjamin T; Hunt, Benjamin A E; Pang, Elizabeth W; Taylor, Margot J
• Is Part Of: Social cognitive and affective neuroscience. Volume 17:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 377
• Page End: 386
• Publication Date: 2021-10-16
• Subjects: resting-state connectivity -- preterm birth -- magnetoencephalography (MEG) -- intrinsic networks -- functional connectivity; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Cognitive neuroscience -- Periodicals; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; 612.8205
• DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsab110
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1749-5016

Abstract

Abstract: Very preterm (VPT: ≤32 weeks of gestational age) birth poses an increased risk for social and cognitive morbidities that persist throughout life. Resting-state functional network connectivity studies provide information about the intrinsic capacity for cognitive processing. We studied the following four social–cognitive resting-state networks: the default mode, salience, frontal-parietal and language networks. We examined functional connectivity using magnetoencephalography with individual head localization using each participant's MRI at 6 ( n = 40) and 8 ( n = 40) years of age compared to age- and sex-matched full-term (FT) born children ( n = 38 at 6 years and n = 43 at 8 years). VPT children showed increased connectivity compared to FT children in the gamma band (30–80 Hz) at 6 years within the default mode network (DMN), and between the DMN and the salience, frontal-parietal and language networks, pointing to more diffuse, less segregated processing across networks at this age. At 8 years, VPT children had more social and academic difficulties. Increased DMN connectivity at 6 years was associated with social and working memory difficulties at 8 years. Therefore, we suggest that increased DMN connectivity contributes to the observed emerging social and cognitive morbidities in school age.