Vahidi Homa, Kowalczyk Alexandra, Stubbs Kevin, Musabi Melab, Roychaudhuri Sriya, Kent Michaela, Bhattacharya Soume, de Ribaupierre Sandrine, Lawrence Keith St, Mohsenzadeh Yalda, Duerden Emma G
Department of Neuroscience, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.
Brain Behav. 2024 Dec;14(12):e70180. doi: 10.1002/brb3.70180.
Resting-state networks (RSNs), particularly the sensorimotor network, begin to strengthe in the third trimester of pregnancy and mature extensively by term age. The integrity and structure of these networks have been repeatedly linked to neurological health outcomes in neonates, highlighting the importance of understanding the normative variations in RSNs in healthy development. Specifically, robust bilateral functional connectivity in the sensorimotor RSN has been linked to optimal neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonates.
In the current study, we aimed to map the developmental trajectory of the sensorimotor RSN in awake neonates using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
MATERIALS & METHODS: We acquired fNIRS resting-state data from 41 healthy newborns (17 females, gestational age ranging from 36 + 0 to 42 + 1 weeks) within the first week after birth. We performed both single channel and hemispheric analyses to investigate the relationship between functional connectivity and both gestational and postnatal age.
We observed robust positive connectivity in numerous channel-pairs across the sensorimotor network, especially in the left hemisphere. Next, we examined the relationship between functional connectivity, gestational age, and postnatal age, while controlling for sex and subject effects. We found both gestational and postnatal age to be significantly associated with changes in functional connectivity in the sensorimotor RSN. In our hemispheric analysis (N = 10, N = 15, and N = 9), we observed a significant positive relationship between interhemispheric connectivity and postnatal age.
In summary, our findings demonstrate the utility of fNIRS for monitoring early developmental changes in functional networks in awake newborns.
静息态网络（RSNs），尤其是感觉运动网络，在妊娠晚期开始增强，并在足月时广泛成熟。这些网络的完整性和结构已多次与新生儿的神经健康结果相关联，凸显了了解健康发育中RSNs规范变化的重要性。具体而言，感觉运动RSN中强大的双侧功能连接与新生儿最佳神经发育结果相关联。
在本研究中，我们旨在使用功能近红外光谱（fNIRS）绘制清醒新生儿感觉运动RSN的发育轨迹。
我们在出生后第一周内从41名健康新生儿（17名女性，胎龄范围为36 + 0至42 + 1周）获取了fNIRS静息态数据。我们进行了单通道和半球分析，以研究功能连接与胎龄和出生后年龄之间的关系。
我们在感觉运动网络的众多通道对中观察到强大的正连接，尤其是在左半球。接下来，我们在控制性别和个体效应的同时，研究了功能连接、胎龄和出生后年龄之间的关系。我们发现胎龄和出生后年龄均与感觉运动RSN中功能连接的变化显著相关。在我们的半球分析（N = 10、N = 15和N = 9）中，我们观察到半球间连接与出生后年龄之间存在显著的正相关关系。
总之，我们的研究结果证明了fNIRS在监测清醒新生儿功能网络早期发育变化方面的实用性。
