Abstract
Survivors of preterm birth experience long-lasting behavioral problems characterized by increased risk of depression, anxiety, and impairments in social functioning. The amygdala is a key region for social functioning and alterations in amygdala structure and connectivity are thought to underlie social functioning deficits in many disorders, including preterm birth. However, functional connectivity of the amygdala and its association with social impairments is not well-studied in preterm participants (PTs). In a group of late adolescents born very PT (600–1250 g birth weight), measures of social and emotional development were examined using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) administered at age 16 (66 term and 161 preterm participants), the Youth Self Report (YSR) administered at age 16 (56 term and 45 preterm participants), and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS) administered at age 18 (71 term and 190 preterm participants). Amygdala functional connectivity was also examined using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging at age 20 (17 term and 19 preterm participants). By parent report, preterm-born adolescents demonstrate increased social impairment compared to their term-born peers. Amygdala connectivity is altered for those prematurely-born, and markers of social functioning correlate with altered amygdala-PCC connectivity. These findings add to knowledge regarding the developmental trajectory of amygdala connectivity in PT and suggest a possible neural underpinning for the well-characterized social impairment experienced by prematurely-born individuals.
Highlights
IntroductionPreterm (PT) birth is a significant global public health problem with as many as 11% of global live births occurring before 37 weeks of gestation.(Blencowe et al, 2013) Survivors of preterm birth experience long-lasting behavioral problems characterized by increased risk for depression, anxiety, and impairments in social functioning.(Bhutta et al, 2002; Eryigit-Madzwamuse et al, 2015; Fenoglio et al, 2017; Healy et al, 2013; Johnson and Marlow, 2014; Montagna and Nosarti, 2016) These symptoms present early in childhood and last into adulthood, with increased internalizing behavior, impaired emotional regulation, and poorer peer play in early childhood(Boyd et al, 2013; Jones et al, 2013; Spittle et al, 2009) and with impaired social adjustment and increased risk for bullying in adolescence.(Allin et al, 2006; Yau et al, 2013) Even in adulthood, PT are less extroverted, take fewer risks, and have lower self-esteem compared to their term-born peers.(Eryigit-Madzwamuse et al, 2015; Saigal et al, 2016b) Because of these impairments in social functioning, PT-born adults are less likely to maintain committed relationships or become parents.(D'Onofrio et al, 2013) In addition, these symptoms have been linked to increased psychiatric morbidity in the PT population at young adulthood, including anxiety, depression, and social phobias. (Burnett et al, 2011; Healy et al, 2013; Johnson and Marlow, 2011, 2014; Van Lieshout et al, 2015)
It was hypothesized that PTs would demonstrate decreased social functioning in late adolescence when compared to their term-born peers, and that impaired social functioning would correlate with altered amygdala connectivity
Using neurobehavioral testing and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we demonstrate that very preterm-born adolescents are more vulnerable to social impairments than their term-born peers in the view of their parents, that amygdala connectivity is altered for those prematurely-born, and that behavioral markers of social functioning correlate with altered amygdala-PCC connectivity
Summary
Preterm (PT) birth is a significant global public health problem with as many as 11% of global live births occurring before 37 weeks of gestation.(Blencowe et al, 2013) Survivors of preterm birth experience long-lasting behavioral problems characterized by increased risk for depression, anxiety, and impairments in social functioning.(Bhutta et al, 2002; Eryigit-Madzwamuse et al, 2015; Fenoglio et al, 2017; Healy et al, 2013; Johnson and Marlow, 2014; Montagna and Nosarti, 2016) These symptoms present early in childhood and last into adulthood, with increased internalizing behavior, impaired emotional regulation, and poorer peer play in early childhood(Boyd et al, 2013; Jones et al, 2013; Spittle et al, 2009) and with impaired social adjustment and increased risk for bullying in adolescence.(Allin et al, 2006; Yau et al, 2013) Even in adulthood, PT are less extroverted, take fewer risks, and have lower self-esteem compared to their term-born peers.(Eryigit-Madzwamuse et al, 2015; Saigal et al, 2016b) Because of these impairments in social functioning, PT-born adults are less likely to maintain committed relationships or become parents.(D'Onofrio et al, 2013) In addition, these symptoms have been linked to increased psychiatric morbidity in the PT population at young adulthood, including anxiety, depression, and social phobias. (Burnett et al, 2011; Healy et al, 2013; Johnson and Marlow, 2011, 2014; Van Lieshout et al, 2015). In PT neonates, amygdala connectivity is decreased to frontal cortex and sub-cortical regions(Rogers et al, 2017; Scheinost et al, 2016) and correlates with internalizing symptoms at 2 years of age (Rogers et al, 2017). Assessment scores were compared to amygdala functional connectivity using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) between study groups at age 20, and individual differences in social behavior were correlated with alterations in the amygdala. It was hypothesized that PTs would demonstrate decreased social functioning in late adolescence when compared to their term-born peers, and that impaired social functioning would correlate with altered amygdala connectivity
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
