Association of brain functional connectivity with neurodevelopmental outcomes in healthy full-term newborns

Venkata C. Chirumamilla, Prenatal Pediatrics Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States.
Laura Hitchings, Prenatal Pediatrics Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States.
Sarah B. Mulkey, Prenatal Pediatrics Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States; Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States; Department of Neurology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States.
Tayyba Anwar, Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States; Department of Neurology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States; Department of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States.
Robin Baker, Inova Women's and Children's Hospital, Fairfax, VA, United States; Fairfax Neonatal Associates, Fairfax, VA, United States.
G Larry Maxwell, Inova Women's and Children's Hospital, Fairfax, VA, United States.
Josepheen De Asis-Cruz, Developing Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States.
Kushal Kapse, Developing Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States.
Catherine Limperopoulos, Developing Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States; Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States.
Adre du Plessis, Prenatal Pediatrics Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States; Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States.
R B. Govindan, Prenatal Pediatrics Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States; Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States. Electronic address: rgovinda@childrensnational.org.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

4-1-2024

Journal

Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology

Volume

160

DOI

10.1016/j.clinph.2024.02.009

Keywords

Graph theory; HD-EEG source analysis; Linearly constrained minimum variance beamformer; Low-risk term newborns

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between neurodevelopmental outcomes and functional brain connectivity (FBC) in healthy term infants. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of prospectively collected High-density electroencephalography (HD-EEG) from newborns within 72 hours from birth. Developmental assessments were performed at two years of age using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III (BSID-III) measuring cognitive, language, motor, and socio-emotional scores. The FBC was calculated using phase synchronization analysis of source signals in delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands and its association with neurodevelopmental score was assessed with stepwise regression. RESULTS: 47/163 had both HD-EEG and BSID-III scores. The FBC of frontal region was associated with cognitive score in the theta band (corrected p, regression coefficients range: p < 0.01, 1.66-1.735). Language scores were significantly associated with connectivity in all frequency bands, predominantly in the left hemisphere (p < 0.01, -2.74-2.40). The FBC of frontal and occipital brain regions of both hemispheres was related to motor score and socio-emotional development in theta, alpha, and gamma frequency bands (p < 0.01, -2.16-2.97). CONCLUSIONS: Functional connectivity of higher-order processing is already present at term age. SIGNIFICANCE: The FBC might be used to guide interventions for optimizing subsequent neurodevelopment even in low-risk newborns.

Department

Pediatrics

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