Heller-Wight Abi, Phipps Connor, Sexton Jennifer, Ramirez Meghan, Warren David E
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA.
Brain Sci. 2023 Nov 7;13(11):1558. doi: 10.3390/brainsci13111558.
Periadolescence is a neurodevelopmental period characterized by structural and functional brain changes that are associated with cognitive maturation. The development of the functional connectivity of the hippocampus contributes to cognitive maturation, especially memory processes. Notably, hippocampal development is influenced by lifestyle factors, including physical activity. Physical activity has been associated with individual variability in hippocampal functional connectivity. However, this relationship has not been characterized in a developmental cohort. In this study, we aimed to fill this gap by investigating the relationship between physical activity and the functional connectivity of the hippocampus in a cohort of periadolescents aged 8-13 years (N = 117). The participants completed a physical activity questionnaire, reporting the number of days per week they performed 60 min of physical activity; then, they completed a resting-state functional MRI scan. We observed that greater physical activity was significantly associated with differences in hippocampal functional connectivity in frontal and temporal regions. Greater physical activity was associated with decreased connectivity between the hippocampus and the right superior frontal gyrus and increased connectivity between the hippocampus and the left superior temporal sulcus. Capturing changes in hippocampal functional connectivity during key developmental periods may elucidate how lifestyle factors including physical activity influence brain network connectivity trajectories, cognitive development, and future disease risk.
青春期前后是一个神经发育阶段,其特征是大脑结构和功能发生变化,这些变化与认知成熟有关。海马体功能连接的发展有助于认知成熟,尤其是记忆过程。值得注意的是,海马体的发育受生活方式因素的影响,包括体育活动。体育活动与海马体功能连接的个体差异有关。然而,这种关系在发育队列中尚未得到描述。在本研究中,我们旨在通过调查8至13岁青春期前队列(N = 117)中体育活动与海马体功能连接之间的关系来填补这一空白。参与者完成了一份体育活动问卷,报告他们每周进行60分钟体育活动的天数;然后,他们完成了一次静息态功能磁共振成像扫描。我们观察到,更多的体育活动与额叶和颞叶区域海马体功能连接的差异显著相关。更多的体育活动与海马体与右侧额上回之间的连接减少以及海马体与左侧颞上沟之间的连接增加有关。捕捉关键发育时期海马体功能连接的变化可能有助于阐明包括体育活动在内的生活方式因素如何影响脑网络连接轨迹、认知发展和未来疾病风险。