Prenatal environment is associated with the pace of cortical network development over the first three years of life

Ursula A. Tooley (), Aidan Latham, Jeanette K. Kenley, Dimitrios Alexopoulos, Tara A. Smyser, Ashley N. Nielsen, Lisa Gorham, Barbara B. Warner, Joshua S. Shimony, Jeffrey J. Neil, Joan L. Luby, Deanna M. Barch, Cynthia E. Rogers and Christopher D. Smyser
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Ursula A. Tooley: Washington University in St. Louis
Aidan Latham: Washington University in St. Louis
Jeanette K. Kenley: Washington University in St. Louis
Dimitrios Alexopoulos: Washington University in St. Louis
Tara A. Smyser: Washington University in St. Louis
Ashley N. Nielsen: Washington University in St. Louis
Lisa Gorham: Washington University in St. Louis
Barbara B. Warner: Washington University in St. Louis
Joshua S. Shimony: Washington University in St. Louis
Jeffrey J. Neil: Washington University in St. Louis
Joan L. Luby: Washington University in St. Louis
Deanna M. Barch: Washington University in St. Louis
Cynthia E. Rogers: Washington University in St. Louis
Christopher D. Smyser: Washington University in St. Louis

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract Environmental influences on brain structure and function during early development have been well-characterized, but whether early environments are associated with the pace of brain development is not clear. In pre-registered analyses, we use flexible non-linear models to test the theory that prenatal disadvantage is associated with differences in trajectories of intrinsic brain network development from birth to three years (n = 261). Prenatal disadvantage was assessed using a latent factor of socioeconomic disadvantage that included measures of mother’s income-to-needs ratio, educational attainment, area deprivation index, insurance status, and nutrition. We find that prenatal disadvantage is associated with developmental increases in cortical network segregation, with neonates and toddlers with greater exposure to prenatal disadvantage showing a steeper increase in cortical network segregation with age, consistent with accelerated network development. Associations between prenatal disadvantage and cortical network segregation occur at the local scale and conform to a sensorimotor-association hierarchy of cortical organization. Disadvantage-associated differences in cortical network segregation are associated with language abilities at two years, such that lower segregation is associated with improved language abilities. These results shed light on associations between the early environment and trajectories of cortical development.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52242-4

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