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February 10, 2024
A groundbreaking scanning study led by King’s College London has unveiled distinct patterns of brain connectivity in newborns, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of early brain development.
Published in Nature Communications and supported by Wellcome and the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, the study represents a significant milestone in understanding how the communication between brain areas evolves in the first few weeks of life.
Dr. Dafnis Batallé, Senior Lecturer in Neurodevelopmental Science at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, emphasized the study’s pioneering nature in unraveling the transient states of connectivity in early infancy.
“By analyzing brain scans from 390 babies, we have begun to identify different transient states of connectivity that could potentially provide insight into how the brain is developing at this age and what behaviors and functions these patterns are linked to as the baby grows older,” stated Dr. Batallé.
The study, which involved 324 full-term babies and 66 pre-term babies, utilized state-of-the-art functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) techniques to evaluate moment-to-moment changes in brain connectivity. This dynamic approach provided unprecedented insights into the evolving patterns of brain activity during infancy.
Dr. Lucas França, Assistant Professor in Computer and Information Sciences at Northumbria University and first author of the study, highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of the research, which leveraged methodologies from computer science and physics to elucidate the complexities of the neonatal brain.
The findings revealed six distinct brain states, with differences observed between term and pre-term babies. Pre-term babies exhibited unique patterns of connectivity, spending more time in frontal and occipital brain states compared to their full-term counterparts.
Professor Grainne McAlonan, Interim Director of NIHR Maudsley BRC and Professor of Translational Neuroscience at IoPPN, emphasized the implications of the study for understanding early brain development and supporting subsequent developmental milestones.
“The difference between term and pre-term babies suggests that time spent in or outside the womb shapes brain development,” remarked Professor McAlonan. “We now need to try and find out if it is possible to use these insights to identify and help those who need some additional support.”
The data for the study was sourced from The Developing Human Connectome Project (dHCP), an open science initiative led by King’s College London. Professor David Edwards, Principal Investigator of dHCP, underscored the importance of data sharing in advancing research on human brain development.
“This study shows the power of the large set of data acquired by the Developing Human Connectome Project,” said Professor Edwards. “The data are freely available to researchers who want to study human brain development, enabling collaborative efforts to unravel the mysteries of early brain connectivity.”
As the research continues to unravel the complexities of brain development in infancy, the findings hold promise for informing early intervention strategies and supporting optimal neurodevelopment in children.
