胎儿酒精谱系障碍患儿的神经元网络连接改变及其与抑制功能的关联。
Altered neuronal network connectivity in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and its association with inhibitory function.
作者信息
Alsameen Maryam H, Candelaria-Cook Felicha T, Cerros Cassandra M, Hill Dina E, Stephen Julia M
机构信息
The Mind Research Network a Division of Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
出版信息
Alcohol Clin Exp Res (Hoboken). 2025 Aug 27. doi: 10.1111/acer.70144.
BACKGROUND
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is associated with widespread neurocognitive deficits, including impairments in executive function, attention, and inhibitory control. However, understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying these deficits in young children 6-8 years of age remains limited. This study investigated functional connectivity (FC) alterations in key brain networks related to inhibitory control and executive function in children with FASD compared to typically developing controls (TDC).
METHODS
Seed-based connectivity (SBC) analysis was conducted in 27 children with FASD and 30 TDC, focusing on the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) within the Default Mode Network (DMN) and Frontal Parietal Network (FPN). FC differences were assessed across resting-state conditions (eyes closed vs. eyes open) and correlated with Conners Continuous Performance Test (CPT).
RESULTS
Children with FASD exhibited significantly reduced FC between MPFC and limbic regions, including the amygdala, hippocampus, and brainstem, suggesting impairments in emotion regulation and cognitive control. The FPN showed altered connectivity with the middle temporal gyrus and inferior lateral occipital cortex, regions crucial for higher order cognitive processing. Significant interactions between groups and resting-state condition were observed, with altered connectivity patterns in the MPFC and FPN suggesting sensory-motor and cognitive control disruptions. FC patterns in these networks were significantly correlated with CPT performance, including increased errors of omission and reaction time variability, indicating deficits in sustained attention and response inhibition.
CONCLUSION
Our findings reveal early disruptions in FC within the DMN and FPN in young children with FASD, highlighting altered interactions between key brain regions implicated in inhibitory control and executive function. These neural alterations were associated with behavioral deficits in attention and cognitive control, suggesting that FC abnormalities may underlie core cognitive impairments in FASD. Findings underscore the importance of early identification and intervention strategies targeting neural network dysfunctions to improve cognitive outcomes in children with FASD.
背景
胎儿酒精谱系障碍（FASD）与广泛的神经认知缺陷有关，包括执行功能、注意力和抑制控制方面的损害。然而，对于6至8岁幼儿这些缺陷背后的神经机制的理解仍然有限。本研究调查了与典型发育对照儿童（TDC）相比，FASD儿童中与抑制控制和执行功能相关的关键脑网络中的功能连接（FC）改变。
方法
对27名FASD儿童和30名TDC儿童进行基于种子的连接性（SBC）分析，重点关注默认模式网络（DMN）和额顶网络（FPN）内的内侧前额叶皮质（MPFC）。在静息状态条件（闭眼与睁眼）下评估FC差异，并与康纳斯连续性能测试（CPT）相关联。
结果
FASD儿童在MPFC与边缘区域（包括杏仁核、海马体和脑干）之间的FC显著降低，表明情绪调节和认知控制存在损害。FPN与颞中回和枕下回外侧区域的连接性发生改变，这些区域对高阶认知加工至关重要。观察到组与静息状态条件之间存在显著交互作用，MPFC和FPN中连接模式的改变表明感觉运动和认知控制受到干扰。这些网络中的FC模式与CPT表现显著相关，包括遗漏错误增加和反应时间变异性增加，表明持续注意力和反应抑制存在缺陷。
结论
我们的研究结果揭示了FASD幼儿中DMN和FPN内FC的早期破坏，突出了与抑制控制和执行功能相关的关键脑区之间改变的相互作用。这些神经改变与注意力和认知控制方面的行为缺陷相关，表明FC异常可能是FASD核心认知障碍的基础。研究结果强调了早期识别和针对神经网络功能障碍的干预策略对于改善FASD儿童认知结果的重要性。
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