Abstract
Variability in functional brain network connectivity has been linked to individual differences in cognitive, affective, and behavioral traits in adults. However, little is known about the developmental origins of such brain-behavior correlations. The current study examined functional brain network connectivity and its link to behavioral temperament in typically developing newborn and 1-month-old infants (M [age] = 25 days; N = 75) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Specifically, we measured long-range connectivity between cortical regions approximating fronto-parietal, default mode, and homologous-interhemispheric networks. Our results show that connectivity in these functional brain networks varies across infants and maps onto individual differences in behavioral temperament. Specifically, connectivity in the fronto-parietal network was positively associated with regulation and orienting behaviors, whereas connectivity in the default mode network showed the opposite effect on these behaviors. Our analysis also revealed a significant positive association between the homologous-interhemispheric network and infants' negative affect. The current results suggest that variability in long-range intra-hemispheric and cross-hemispheric functional connectivity between frontal, parietal, and temporal cortex is associated with individual differences in affect and behavior. These findings shed new light on the brain origins of individual differences in early-emerging behavioral traits and thus represent a viable novel approach for investigating developmental trajectories in typical and atypical neurodevelopment.
Highlights
Spontaneous brain activity is characterized by intrinsic dynamics of synchronized low-frequency fluctuations within structurally and functionally connected brain networks [1, 2]
We found that the level of alertness was negatively related to functional connectivity levels in the three networks of interest (HIN rs = −0.27, p = 0.021; fronto-parietal network (FPN) rs = −0.38, p < 0.001; default mode network (DMN) rs = −0.30, p = 0.008)
The current study examined functional connectivity in brain networks using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and behavioral temperament using parental report in young infants
Summary
Spontaneous brain activity is characterized by intrinsic dynamics of synchronized low-frequency fluctuations within structurally and functionally connected brain networks [1, 2]. Much progress has been made in mapping the functional connectome in early human brain development; to date, little is known about whether and how functional brain network connectivity in these networks is linked to early affective, cognitive, and behavioral traits. This is a important question considering that many mental health disorders are: (a) accompanied by alterations in functional connectivity and (b) are argued to have deep developmental origins [2, 19,20,21]
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