Distinct Developmental Trajectories Research Articles

Subjective well-being of college students: Developmental trajectories, predictors, and risk for depression

The study aimed to identify different developmental trajectories of subjective well-being for 2 473 college students from freshman to senior year (female = 47.15%; mean age = 19.6 years, SD = 0.894 years). We further explored the associations between categories of well-being development and depression levels across different groups of subjective well-being. Students completed a longitudinal survey over four academic years, self-reporting their subjective well-being, mental state, demographic characteristics, family background, and academic performance. Growth mixture model analysis revealed three distinct developmental trajectories of college students’ subjective well-being: high stable (HS), low increasing (LI), and high decreasing (HD). Factors such as sex, physical health, self-esteem, parental education level, and peer relationships were significantly associated with the subjective well-being classification trajectories. In addition, a stable and high level of subjective well-being was associated with lower risk for depression. The results indicate the importance of subjective well-being practices for students’ long-term schooling-related quality of life.

Cultural Values Influence the Developmental Trajectory of Resistance to Social Influence Over the Course of Adolescence

ABSTRACTThe opinions of peers are among the most potent factors influencing human decision‐making. Research conducted in Western societies suggests that individuals become more resistant to peer influence from late adolescence to adulthood. It is unknown whether this developmental trajectory is universal across cultures. Through two cross‐national studies, we present consistent self‐report and behavioral evidence for culturally distinct developmental trajectories of resistance to peer influence (RPI). Our findings from the US samples replicated prior findings that reported increasing RPI. Yet, data from the Chinese participants were better fitted using a nonlinear model, displaying a U‐shaped trajectory with lowest RPI levels at around 20 years old. In contrast to the long‐held belief that increasing RPI from adolescence to early adulthood is a universal developmental trait, we propose that this developmental trajectory may depend on cultural context.

Suicide Risk among Chinese Left-Behind Adolescents: Developmental Trajectories and Multi-Contextual Predictors.

Suicide is prevalent among left-behind youth, a group that has yet to be thoroughly explored in terms of the developmental dynamics of their suicide risk and associated factors. This study adopted a person-centered approach to investigate the developmental trajectories of suicide risk among Chinese left-behind adolescents, along with multi-dimensional predictors. A total of 774 left-behind adolescents (Mage = 13.60, 50.1% female) completed three surveys over a year, with six-month intervals. Result of Latent Class Growth Modeling identified three subgroups with distinct developmental trajectories: High Risk-Escalating (7.6% of participants started at the highest levels with a worsening trend), Risk-Holding (21.6% maintained a stable but risk level starting above the critical threshold), and Low Risk-Diminishing (70.8% started low and continued to decrease). Gender (being a female), increased levels of childhood maltreatment, psychological pain, and depression were risk factors for High Risk-Escalating and/or Risk-Holding trajectories, while increased sense of control and regulatory emotional self-efficacy played protective roles. The findings underscore the malignant developmental patterns of suicide risk among left-behind adolescents. The predictive factors play a crucial role in distinguishing and improving these developmental trajectories.

Endocranial development in non-avian dinosaurs reveals an ontogenetic brain trajectory distinct from extant archosaurs

Modern birds possess highly encephalized brains that evolved from non-avian dinosaurs. Evolutionary shifts in developmental timing, namely juvenilization of adult phenotypes, have been proposed as a driver of head evolution along the dinosaur-bird transition, including brain morphology. Testing this hypothesis requires a sufficient developmental sampling of brain morphology in non-avian dinosaurs. In this study, we harness brain endocasts of a postnatal growth series of the ornithischian dinosaur Psittacosaurus and several other immature and mature non-avian dinosaurs to investigate how evolutionary changes to brain development are implicated in the origin of the avian brain. Using three-dimensional characterization of neuroanatomical shape across archosaurian reptiles, we demonstrate that (i) the brain of non-avian dinosaurs underwent a distinct developmental trajectory compared to alligators and crown birds; (ii) ornithischian and non-avialan theropod dinosaurs shared a similar developmental trajectory, suggesting that their derived trajectory evolved in their common ancestor; and (iii) the evolutionary shift in developmental trajectories is partly consistent with paedomorphosis underlying overall brain shape evolution along the dinosaur-bird transition; however, the heterochronic signal is not uniform across time and neuroanatomical region suggesting a highly mosaic acquisition of the avian brain form.

Trajectory patterns and predictors of cancer-related fatigue in postoperative lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a chronic symptom that can affect the overall functioning of lung cancer patients throughout the course of the disease. However, there is limited research on the trajectory and predictors of CRF specifically in lung cancer patients. Furthermore, few studies have investigated the predictive role of positive psychological and social factors in relation to CRF. This study aimed to explore the trajectory of CRF and its predictors in postoperative chemotherapy patients with lung cancer. A total of 202 lung cancer patients who underwent surgery and received adjuvant chemotherapy were recruited for this study. Baseline questionnaires were completed, covering sociodemographic information, disease details, CRF levels, personality traits, psychological resilience, and social support. CRF was assessed at three time points: first chemotherapy (T1), 3months after chemotherapy (T2), and 6months after chemotherapy (T3). Latent class growth modeling (LCGM) was used to identify distinct developmental trajectories of CRF. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine predictors of CRF within different patient groups. The LCGM analysis revealed three distinct CRF trajectories: persistent high fatigue group (30.7%), rising fatigue group (30.7%), and no fatigue group (38.6%). Cancer stage (OR = 7.563, 95% CI = 2.468-23.182, P < 0.001), melancholic personality (OR = 6.901, 95% CI = 1.261-37.764, P = 0.026), and high psychological resilience (OR = 0.171, 95% CI = 0.041-0.706, P = 0.015) were associated with the CRF trajectory. On the other hand, sanguine personality (OR = 0.254, 95% CI = 0.071-0.916, P = 0.036) and high social support (OR = 0.168, 95% CI = 0.045-0.627, P = 0.008) were associated with the increasing fatigue trajectory. This study demonstrated that 60% of lung cancer patients experienced persistent fatigue throughout the assessment period. Moreover, it confirmed the heterogeneity of CRF trajectories among lung cancer patients. The severity of CRF was found to be higher in patients with advanced clinical stages, depressive personality traits, and lower psychological resilience.

Reciprocal relations between future time perspective and academic achievement among adolescents: A four-wave longitudinal study.

Adolescents' academic achievement is closely associated with their future time perspective. However, the reciprocal nature of this relationship remains ambiguous due to a lack of longitudinal studies. This study investigated the developmental trajectories of future time perspective and academic achievement among adolescents, as well as reciprocal relations between future time perspective and academic achievement. Between 2017 and 2019, we collected 373 adolescents' (baseline Mage = 14.48, SD = 1.90; 49% girls) future time perspective and academic achievement four times from Henan and Hunan Province, China. Each is separated by a 6-month interval. Chinese adolescents' future time perspective was relatively stable. Regarding academic achievement, two distinct developmental trajectories of academic achievement were identified (i.e., high positive growth class and low negative growth class). Those who excel tended to experience an upward trajectory, while those with poorer grades continued to experience a downward trajectory. In the high positive growth class, the intercept of future time perspective was positively correlated with the rate of academic achievement growth, whereas, in the low negative growth class, it negatively predicted the rate of academic achievement decline. More importantly, reciprocal relations existed between future time perspective and academic achievement. Adolescents' future time perspective may serve as a protective factor for academic achievement, while high academic achievement may also benefit future time perspective. Interventions to enhance academic achievement should prioritize cultivating adolescents' future perspectives. Additionally, preventing the adverse consequences of subpar academic achievement on future time perspective is imperative.

Object Exploration and Manipulation in Infants at Typical vs. Elevated Likelihood for ASD: A Review.

The present review considers the growing body of literature on fine motor skills in infants at elevated genetic likelihood (EL) for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This area of study aims to identify crucial motor markers associated with the disorder, facilitating earlier and more accurate identification of ASD, using various experimental methodologies, including standardized assessments, observational measures, and technological tools. The reviewed evidence revealed distinct developmental trajectories in EL infants, marked by differences in fine motor skills and exploratory behaviors compared to typically developing infants. We discuss the developmental trajectory of fine motor skills in infants and their predictive value for later ASD diagnosis, highlighting the significance of fine motor skills as early indicators of ASD risk in infants and emphasizing the need for further research to elucidate their predictive value and underlying mechanisms.

Cell type-specific expression of angiotensin receptors in the human lung with implications for health, aging, and chronic disease.

The renin-angiotensin system is a highly characterized integrative pathway in mammalian homeostasis whose clinical spectrum has been expanded to lung disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-emphysema, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and COVID pathogenesis. Despite this widespread interest, specific localization of this receptor family in the mammalian lung is limited, partially due to the imprecision of available antibody reagents. In this study, we establish the expression pattern of the two predominant angiotensin receptors in the human lung, AGTR1 and AGTR2, using complementary and comprehensive bulk and single-cell RNA-sequence datasets that are publicly available. We show these two receptors have distinct localization patterns and developmental trajectories in the human lung, pericytes for AGTR1 and a subtype of alveolar epithelial type 2 cells for AGTR2. In the context of disease, we further pinpoint AGTR2 localization to the COPD-associated subpopulation of alveolar epithelial type 2 (AT2B) and AGTR1 localization to fibroblasts, where their expression is upregulated in individuals with COPD, but not in individuals with IPF. Finally, we examine the genetic variation of the angiotensin receptors, finding AGTR2 associated with lung phenotype (i.e., cystic fibrosis) via rs1403543. Together, our findings provide a critical foundation for delineating this pathway's role in lung homeostasis and constructing rational approaches for targeting specific lung disorders.

Early transcriptional similarities between two distinct neural lineages during ascidian embryogenesis

In chordates, the central nervous system arises from precursors that have distinct developmental and transcriptional trajectories. Anterior nervous systems are ontogenically associated with ectodermal lineages while posterior nervous systems are associated with mesoderm. Taking advantage of the well-documented cell lineage of ascidian embryos, we asked to what extent the transcriptional states of the different neural lineages become similar during the course of progressive lineage restriction. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analyses on hand-dissected neural precursor cells of the two distinct lineages, together with those of their sister cell lineages, with a high temporal resolution covering five successive cell cycles from the 16-cell to neural plate stages. A transcription factor binding site enrichment analysis of neural specific genes at the neural plate stage revealed limited evidence for shared transcriptional control between the two neural lineages, consistent with their different ontogenies. Nevertheless, PCA analysis and hierarchical clustering showed that, by neural plate stages, the two neural lineages cluster together. Consistent with this, we identified a set of genes enriched in both neural lineages at the neural plate stage, including miR-124, Celf3.a, Zic.r-b, and Ets1/2. Altogether, the current study has revealed genome-wide transcriptional dynamics of neural progenitor cells of two distinct developmental origins. Our scRNA-seq dataset is unique and provides a valuable resource for future analyses, enabling a precise temporal resolution of cell types not previously described from dissociated embryos.

Deciphering the functional specialization of whole-brain spatiomolecular gradients in the adult brain

Cortical arealization arises during neurodevelopment from the confluence of molecular gradients representing patterned expression of morphogens and transcription factors. However, whether similar gradients are maintained in the adult brain remains unknown. Here, we uncover three axes of topographic variation in gene expression in the adult human brain that specifically capture previously identified rostral-caudal, dorsal-ventral, and medial-lateral axes of early developmental patterning. The interaction of these spatiomolecular gradients i) accurately reconstructs the position of brain tissue samples, ii) delineates known functional territories, and iii) can model the topographical variation of diverse cortical features. The spatiomolecular gradients are distinct from canonical cortical axes differentiating the primary sensory cortex from the association cortex, but radiate in parallel with the axes traversed by local field potentials along the cortex. We replicate all three molecular gradients in three independent human datasets as well as two nonhuman primate datasets and find that each gradient shows a distinct developmental trajectory across the lifespan. The gradients are composed of several well-known transcription factors (e.g., PAX6 and SIX3), and a small set of genes shared across gradients are strongly enriched for multiple diseases. Together, these results provide insight into the developmental sculpting of functionally distinct brain regions, governed by three robust transcriptomic axes embedded within brain parenchyma.

Abnormal Development of the Corpus Callosum in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An MRI Study.

Altered size in the corpus callosum (CC) has been reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but few studies have investigated younger children. Moreover, knowledge about the age-related changes in CC size in individuals with ASD is limited. Our objective was to investigate the age-related size of the CC and compare them with age-matched healthy controls between the ages of 2 and 18 years. Structural-weighted images were acquired in 97 male patients diagnosed with ASD; published data were used for the control group. The CC was segmented into 7 distinct subregions (rostrum, genu, rostral body, anterior midbody, posterior midbody, isthmus, and splenium) as per Witelson's technique using ITK-SNAP software. We calculated both the total length and volume of the CC as well as the length and height of its 7 subregions. The length of the CC measures was studied as both continuous and categorical forms. For the continuous form, Pearson's correlation was used, while categorical forms were based on age ranges reflecting brain expansion during early postnatal years. Differences in CC measures between adjacent age groups in individuals with ASD were assessed using a Student t-test. Mean and standard deviation scores were compared between ASD and control groups using the Welch t-test. Age showed a moderate positive association with the total length of the CC (r = 0.43; Padj = 0.003) among individuals with ASD. Among the subregions, a positive association was observed only in the anterior midbody of the CC (r = 0.41; Padj = 0.01). No association was found between the age and the height of individual subregions or with the total volume of the CC. In comparison with healthy controls, individuals with ASD exhibited shorter lengths and heights of the genu and splenium of the CC across wide age ranges. Overall, our results highlight a distinct abnormal developmental trajectory of CC in ASD, particularly in the genu and splenium structures, potentially reflecting underlying pathophysiological mechanisms that warrant further investigation.

Morphological processing across the adult lifespan: a tale of gains and losses

Despite increasing research on language in aging, age effects on morphological processing have received comparatively little attention. Some previous evidence suggests that while regular morphology (e.g., walk-walked) may remain relatively stable in older age, irregular morphology (e.g., bring-brought) shows signs of age-related decreases in processing efficiency. However, the underlying reasons for these declines are unclear. The current study sought to investigate the cognitive underpinnings of age-related effects on German noun plurals: default plurals (posited to follow a default rule [e.g., Zebra-Zebras 'zebra(s)']) and predictable and unpredictable non-default plurals (closed class plurals, in which the plural is either phonologically predictable from the singular [e.g., Flasche-Flaschen 'bottle(s)'] or unpredictable [e.g., Nest-Nester 'nest(s)']). In a cross-modal priming experiment, 283 healthy German native speakers (aged 18–91 years) performed lexical decisions on singular nouns which take different types of plural affixes, and which were primed by either their plural form ("morphological condition") or an unrelated noun ("unrelated condition"). Additionally, several cognitive abilities (declarative, procedural, and working memory, interference control, processing speed) were tested to assess their mediating role for morphological processing. The results revealed distinct developmental trajectories for default versus non-default plurals: priming effects (unrelated-morphological condition) for predictable and unpredictable non-default plurals decreased with increasing age, with age-related declines in declarative memory mediating these declines. In contrast, priming effects for default plurals increased with increasing age. Although the reasons for this increase remain to be clarified, we suggest lifelong experience with the computation of these forms as a possible mechanism.

Early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder: sociodemographic and clinical characterization of a large outpatient cohort

IntroductionObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a prevalent and disabling condition characterized by a wide variety of phenotypic expressions. Several studies have reinforced the hypothesis of OCD heterogeneity by proposing subtypes based on predominant symptomatology (Mataix-Cols et al., 2005), course (Tukel et al., 2007), and comorbidities (Mahasuar et al., 2011). Early-onset OCD could be considered a neurodevelopmental subtype of OCD, with evidence of distinct neurocircuits supporting disease progression (Park et al., 2022).ObjectivesThe aim of the present study is to evaluate the sociodemographic and clinical differences between the early-onset and late-onset subtypes in a large patient cohort.MethodsTwo hundred and eighty patients diagnosed with OCD were consecutively recruited from the OCD Tertiary Clinic at Luigi Sacco University Hospital in Milan. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were analyzed for the entire sample and compared between the two subgroups (EO: early-onset, age &lt;18 years [40%]; LO: late-onset, age ≥ 18 years [60%]).ResultsThe EO group showed a higher frequency of male gender (65.5% vs 34.5%, p&lt; .001, see Figure 1a), a higher presence of lifetime psychiatric comorbidities (75.7% vs 24.3%, p =.025), and higher rates of Tic and Tourette disorders (7.2% vs 0%, p=.006) compared to the LO group. Additionally, in the EO subgroup, a longer duration of untreated illness was observed (9.05 ± 10.0 vs 5 ± 7.17; p&lt;.001, see Figure 1b), along with a lower presence of insight (33.3% vs. 66.7%, p =.024). No significant differences emerged in the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale scores between the groups.Image:Image 2:ConclusionsThe early-onset OCD subtype highlights a more severe psychopathological profile compared to the late-onset group. Exploring distinct manifestations and developmental trajectories of OCD can contribute to a better definition of homogeneous subtypes, useful for studying risk factors and defining targeted therapeutic strategies for treatment.Disclosure of InterestB. Benatti Speakers bureau of: Angelini, Lundbeck, Janssen, Rovi, N. Girone: None Declared, M. Vismara: None Declared, C. Bucca: None Declared, B. Dell’Osso Grant / Research support from: Angelini, Lundbeck, Janssen, Pfizer, Otzuka, Neuraxpharm, and Livanova, Speakers bureau of: Angelini, Lundbeck, Janssen, Pfizer, Otzuka, Neuraxpharm, and Livanova.

What makes children aged 10 to 13 engage in problematic smartphone use? A longitudinal study of changing patterns considering individual, parental, and school factors.

The current research aimed to discover classification concerning problematic smartphone use in children. Furthermore, to investigate their longitudinal trajectories, as well as to discover the connection concerning problematic smartphone usage by individual, parental, and school factors. A total of 2,399 South Korean children who were in the 4th grade (female 1,206 (50.3%), age 10-13 years) at baseline. Latent class growth analysis was utilized to discover typologies in problematic smartphone use and their longitudinal trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to find various associations among problematic smartphone use and individual, parental, as well as school factors. The results identified three distinct trajectories of problematic smartphone use: (1) a high-level group (7.7%), (2) a mid-increasing group (62.5%), and (3) a low-increasing group (29.8%). The increasing group showed the highest level of problematic smartphone use. Gender, self-esteem, social withdrawal, exercise, parental inconsistency, monthly income, and teacher support were significant predictors. The findings suggest that there are distinct developmental trajectories concerning problematic smartphone usage of childhood. The results show that the early discovery of children in danger of problematic smartphone use and targeted interventions aimed at reducing parental inconsistency and social withdrawal, improving self-esteem, exercise, and teacher support may be effective strategies for preventing problematic smartphone usage during childhood.

Gut microbial network signatures of early colonizers in preterm neonates with extrauterine growth restriction

BackgroundExtrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) represents a prevalent condition observed in preterm neonates, which poses potential adverse implications for both neonatal development and long-term health outcomes. The manifestation of EUGR has been intricately associated with perturbations in microbial and metabolic profiles. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of the gut microbial network in early colonizers among preterm neonates with EUGR.MethodsTwenty-nine preterm infants participated in this study, comprising 14 subjects in the EUGR group and 15 in the normal growth (AGA) group. Meconium (D1) and fecal samples were collected at postnatal day 28 (D28) and 1 month after discharge (M1). Subsequently, total bacterial DNA was extracted and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq system, targeting the V3-V4 hyper-variable regions of the 16S rRNA gene.ResultsThe outcomes of principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and examination of the microbial network structure revealed distinctive developmental trajectories in the gut microbiome during the initial three months of life among preterm neonates with and without EUGR. Significant differences in microbial community were observed at the D1 (P = 0.039) and M1 phases (P = 0.036) between the EUGR and AGA groups, while a comparable microbial community was noted at the D28 phase (P = 0.414). Moreover, relative to the AGA group, the EUGR group exhibited significantly lower relative abundances of bacteria associated with secretion of short-chain fatty acids, including Lactobacillus (P = 0.041) and Parabacteroides (P = 0.033) at the D1 phase, Bifidobacterium at the D28 phase, and genera Dysgonomonas (P = 0.042), Dialister (P = 0.02), Dorea (P = 0.042), and Fusobacterium (P = 0.017) at the M1 phase.ConclusionOverall, the present findings offer crucial important insights into the distinctive gut microbial signatures exhibited by earlier colonizers in preterm neonates with EUGR. Further mechanistic studies are needed to establish whether these differences are the cause or a consequence of EUGR.

Auditory Category Learning in Children With Dyslexia.

Developmental dyslexia is proposed to involve selective procedural memory deficits with intact declarative memory. Recent research in the domain of category learning has demonstrated that adults with dyslexia have selective deficits in Information-Integration (II) category learning that is proposed to rely on procedural learning mechanisms and unaffected Rule-Based (RB) category learning that is proposed to rely on declarative, hypothesis testing mechanisms. Importantly, learning mechanisms also change across development, with distinct developmental trajectories in both procedural and declarative learning mechanisms. It is unclear how dyslexia in childhood should influence auditory category learning, a critical skill for speech perception and reading development. We examined auditory category learning performance and strategies in 7- to 12-year-old children with dyslexia (n = 25; nine females, 16 males) and typically developing controls (n = 25; 13 females, 12 males). Participants learned nonspeech auditory categories of spectrotemporal ripples that could be optimally learned with either RB selective attention to the temporal modulation dimension or procedural integration of information across spectral and temporal dimensions. We statistically compared performance using mixed-model analyses of variance and identified strategies using decision-bound computational models. We found that children with dyslexia have an apparent selective RB category learning deficit, rather than a selective II learning deficit observed in prior work in adults with dyslexia. These results suggest that the important skill of auditory category learning is impacted in children with dyslexia and throughout development, individuals with dyslexia may develop compensatory strategies that preserve declarative learning while developing difficulties in procedural learning. https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25148519.

The spatio-temporal evolution and transformation mode of human settlement quality from the perspective of “production-living-ecological" spaces--a case study of Jilin Province

Amidst rapid industrialization and urbanization, urban and rural human settlements have witnessed marked transformations, each exhibiting distinct developmental trajectories and challenges. Utilizing the “Production-Living-Ecological" spatial theory within territorial planning, this study devises a comprehensive evaluation system for human settlement quality. It delineates the evolution of human settlement quality across 47 counties (districts) in Jilin Province from 1999 to 2020, elucidates the interplay among the three aforementioned dimensions, and identifies the prevailing modes of human settlement transformation. Key findings include: (1) Jilin Province has seen significant enhancements in human settlement quality. Notable shifts in this quality occurred in 2006 and 2015. The synergy and reciprocal influences among the production, living, and ecological dimensions have intensified, with coordination continually advancing. (2) Human settlement quality varies with higher levels in the east and south and lower levels in the west and north in Jilin Province, indicating a spatial clustering pattern. Living and ecological conditions are generally better in the east compared to the west, with noticeable economic-environmental mutual constraints in the west. (3) Given a certain socio-economic development threshold, the trajectory of human settlement quality sketches an overarching “S"-shaped growth pattern. This can be categorized into the first phase of fluctuation, followed by the second phase of significant growth and the third phase of slowing growth. This research furnishes foundational insights for fostering green, low-carbon human settlements and promotes the exploration of harmonious interactions between humans and nature, particularly within the ambit of carbon peak and neutrality objectives.

Identifying cortical structure markers of resilience to adversity in young people using surface-based morphometry.

Previous research on the neurobiological bases of resilience in youth has largely used categorical definitions of resilience and voxel-based morphometry methods that assess gray matter volume. However, it is important to consider brain structure more broadly as different cortical properties have distinct developmental trajectories. To address these limitations, we used surface-based morphometry and data-driven, continuous resilience scores to examine associations between resilience and cortical structure. Structural MRI data from 286 youths (Mage = 13.6 years, 51% female) who took part in the European multi-site FemNAT-CD study were pre-processed and analyzed using surface-based morphometry. Continuous resilience scores were derived for each participant based on adversity exposure and levels of psychopathology using the residual regression method. Vertex-wise analyses assessed for correlations between resilience scores and cortical thickness, surface area, gyrification and volume. Resilience scores were positively associated with right lateral occipital surface area and right superior frontal gyrification and negatively correlated with left inferior temporal surface area. Moreover, sex-by-resilience interactions were observed for gyrification in frontal and temporal regions. Our findings extend previous research by revealing that resilience is related to surface area and gyrification in frontal, occipital and temporal regions that are implicated in emotion regulation and face or object recognition.

Play Behavior Varies with Age, Sex, and Socioecological Context in Wild, Immature Orangutans (Pongo spp.)

Play is thought to serve different purposes at different times during ontogeny. The nature and frequency of play are expected to change accordingly over the developmental trajectory and with socio-ecological context. Orangutans offer the opportunity to disentangle the ontogenetic trajectories of solitary and social play with their extended immature phase, and socio-ecological variation among populations and species. We evaluated the frequency of play in 39 immature individuals across two populations (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii, at Tuanan, Borneo, and P. abelii at Suaq, Sumatra), age (0–11 years), sex, and social context, using more than 11 500 h of full-day focal observation data. We found independent age trajectories of different play types, with solitary object and solitary locomotor peaking before social play. Social play partners changed during ontogeny, and male immatures were more likely to engage in non-mother social play than females. Overall, social play was more frequent at Suaq than Tuanan, linked to the more frequent availability of partners. Furthermore, per time in association with conspecifics, Tuanan immatures were as likely to engage in social play as their peers at Suaq, suggesting similar intrinsic motivation. Increasing fruit availability correlated with both longer associations and increased social play frequency in the less sociable population of Tuanan, but not at Suaq. Our findings on orangutans support evidence from other species that different play types follow different developmental trajectories, vary with sex, social opportunities, and ecological context. Although drawing functional inferences is challenging, the distinct developmental trajectories reflecting adult sociability and behavioral repertoires may indicate that play serves several, non-mutually exclusive functions during ontogeny.

Relationships between peak alpha frequency, age, and autistic traits in young children with and without autism spectrum disorder.

Atypical peak alpha frequency (PAF) has been reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, the relationships between PAF, age, and autistic traits remain unclear. This study was conducted to investigate and compare the resting-state PAF of young children with ASD and their typically developing (TD) peers using magnetoencephalography (MEG). Nineteen children with ASD and 24 TD children, aged 5-7 years, underwent MEG under resting-state conditions. The PAFs in ten brain regions were calculated, and the associations between these findings, age, and autistic traits, measured using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), were examined. There were no significant differences in PAF between the children with ASD and the TD children. However, a unique positive association between age and PAF in the cingulate region was observed in the ASD group, suggesting the potential importance of the cingulate regions as a neurophysiological mechanism underlying distinct developmental trajectory of ASD. Furthermore, a higher PAF in the right temporal region was associated with higher SRS scores in TD children, highlighting the potential role of alpha oscillations in social information processing. This study emphasizes the importance of regional specificity and developmental factors when investigating neurophysiological markers of ASD. The distinct age-related PAF patterns in the cingulate regions of children with ASD and the association between right temporal PAF and autistic traits in TD children provide novel insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of ASD. These findings pave the way for future research on the functional implications of these neurophysiological patterns and their potential as biomarkers of ASD across the lifespan.