Maturational networks of human fetal brain activity reveal emerging connectivity patterns prior to ex-utero exposure.

ABSTRACT: A key feature of the fetal period is the rapid emergence of organised patterns of spontaneous brain activity. However, characterising this process in utero using functional MRI is inherently challenging and requires analytical methods which can capture the constituent developmental transformations. Here, we introduce a novel analytical framework, termed "maturational networks" (matnets), that achieves this by modelling functional networks as an emerging property of the developing brain. Compared to standard network analysis methods that assume consistent patterns of connectivity across development, our method incorporates age-related changes in connectivity directly into network estimation. We test its performance in a large neonatal sample, finding that the matnets approach characterises

SUBMITTER: Karolis VR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10287667 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature