Abstract
Childhood is defined by the development of cognitive abilities as well as brain growth and function. While prior neuroimaging studies have investigated early development fragmentally, we studied the typical development of functional network connectivity continuously from infancy to childhood (average of 24 months) in 196 singleton term born children, as well as their emergence with age and visual, motor, and language abilities as assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. We demonstrate a cross-age shift to networks linked to higher-order cognitive processes, paralleling previous findings about developmental courses of functional connectivity networks. When investigating skill associations with functional connectivity independent of age, we revealed distinct network connectivity patterns for visual, motor, and language skills as each of them become more and more refined along childhood development. Specifically, the amount of functional networks recruited increases with skill complexity, with an exceeding involvement of higher order networks enabling daily maintenance and coordination of cognitive functions. Further, both motor and language network connectivity patterns overlapped in network connectivity patterns for the default mode, visual, salience, and dorsal attention networks, possibly implicating their overarching contribution to each other’s and higher cognitive development.
Highlights
Infancy and early childhood are periods of rapid brain and cognitive development
As our findings investigate and describe the distinct underlying functional network connectivity patterns underlying different motor and cognitive abilities acquired throughout infancy and early childhood, it has the potential for a landmark to detect subclinical early aberrant brain—behavior patterns
Though there were subtle but distinct differences, less connectivity in sensorimotor and language networks in girls when compared to boys, these results suggest unsurprisingly that the general networks underlying individual cognitive skills and behaviors do not differ in boys and girls, and that they develop in a consistent manner
Summary
Infancy and early childhood are periods of rapid brain and cognitive development This developmental period is defined by early motor and language milestones, which are facilitated by dynamic changes in underlying and sub-serving structural and functional brain networks (Silbereis et al 2016). Processes such as myelination, dendritic growth, and synaptic pruning help to establish rapid and efficient communication pathways within and across neural networks. Through increased messaging speed and synchrony, these structural changes help drive the maturation of functional networks, which may incorporate several structurally connected brain regions that work together to perform cognitive tasks.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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
