Early Development of Functional Network Segregation Revealed by Connectomic Analysis of the Preterm Human Brain
Early Development of Functional Network Segregation Revealed by Connectomic Analysis of the Preterm Human Brain
复制标题
早产儿大脑连接组学分析揭示功能网络分离的早期发展
DOI：
10.1093/cercor/bhw038
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发表时间：
2017-03-01
期刊：
影响因子：
3.7
通讯作者：
Huang, Hao
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Cao, Miao;He, Yong;Huang, Hao
人类大脑功能网络的拓扑组织与非平凡的连接特性，如小世界和密集连接的枢纽，以支持高度隔离和集成的信息处理。然而，它们如何在非常早期的发育阶段出现和变化仍然知之甚少。在这里，我们使用静息态功能性MRI和基于体素的图论分析，系统地研究了40名年龄在月经后31至42周左右的婴儿的全脑网络的拓扑组织。在初级运动、躯体感觉、视觉和听觉区域的功能连接强度和异质性显著增加，但在高阶默认模式和执行控制区域的功能连接强度和异质性显著降低。枢纽和丰富的俱乐部结构的主要区域已经存在于月经后31周左右，并表现出显着的扩张，随着年龄的增长，伴随着增加的本地集群和最短路径长度，表明从一个相对随机的过渡到一个更有组织的配置。此外，使用支持向量回归的多变量模式分析显示，早产儿的个体大脑成熟度可以通过网络连接模式进行预测。总的来说，我们强调了在孕晚期逐渐增强的功能网络分离方式，这主要是由主要区域功能连接的快速增加所驱动的，为出生前的拓扑发育模式提供了重要的见解。
Human brain functional networks are topologically organized with nontrivial connectivity characteristics such as smallworldness and densely linked hubs to support highly segregated and integrated information processing. However, how they emerge and change at very early developmental phases remains poorly understood. Here, we used resting-state functional MRI and voxel-based graph theory analysis to systematically investigate the topological organization of whole-brain networks in 40 infants aged around 31 to 42 postmenstrual weeks. The functional connectivity strength and heterogeneity increased significantly in primary motor, somatosensory, visual, and auditory regions, but much less in high-order default-mode and executive-control regions. The hub and rich-club structures in primary regions were already present at around 31 postmenstrual weeks and exhibited remarkable expansions with age, accompanied by increased local clustering and shortest path length, indicating a transition from a relatively random to a more organized configuration. Moreover, multivariate pattern analysis using support vector regression revealed that individual brain maturity of preterm babies could be predicted by the network connectivity patterns. Collectively, we highlighted a gradually enhanced functional network segregation manner in the third trimester, which is primarily driven by the rapid increases of functional connectivity of the primary regions, providing crucial insights into the topological development patterns prior to birth.