Preschool-age sensorimotor network segregation supports motor and cognitive maturation in childhood
Poster No:
1299
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Xing Qian1, Marcus Qin Wen Ong1, Jia Ming Lau1, Shayne Siok Peng Yeo2, Zhen Ming Ngoh2, Ai Peng Tan3, Peter D. Gluckman4, Evelyn Chung Ning Law2, Juan Helen Zhou1
Institutions:
1National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore, 2Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research in Singapore, Singapore, Singapore, 3National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore, 4Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Shayne Siok Peng Yeo
Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research in Singapore
Singapore, Singapore
Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research in Singapore
Singapore, Singapore
Zhen Ming Ngoh
Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research in Singapore
Singapore, Singapore
Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research in Singapore
Singapore, Singapore
Evelyn Chung Ning Law
Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research in Singapore
Singapore, Singapore
Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research in Singapore
Singapore, Singapore
Introduction:
The human brain undergoes early maturation of primary sensorimotor regions and more protracted development of high-order association regions, generally paralleling motor and cognitive milestones1. Research finds that preadolescent children with more physical activity (PA) show more efficient patterns of brain activity and superior cognitive performance2, supporting Piaget's postulation that sensorimotor system provides necessary foundations upon which higher-order cognition is built3. In childhood, brain functional networks became increasingly segregated with increased age, which was suggested to support vast improvements in executive function (EF)4. However, little is known on the longitudinal changes of functional segregation and their associations with EF and PA, particularly in preschool children. We aimed to study this gap in children from 4.5 to 10.5 years old (YO) using longitudinal GUSTO dataset5. We expected differential system-specific trajectories of the network segregation and hypothesized that earlier sensorimotor network segregation would play a dominant role in the behavioral prediction.
Methods:
We studied 574 children who had at least one timepoint brain images of good quality, including 157, 211, 400 and 380 children at the visits of 4.5, 6, 7.5 and 10.5 YO respectively. The average daily time of moderate to vigorous physical activities (MVPA) was measured at 5.5, 8 and 10 YO6. To assess EF, the BRIEF7 were administered at 4.5, 7 and 8.5 YO, and the D-KEFS8 was administered at 10.5 YO.
To calculate functional connectivity (FC), region-of-interest (ROI) time series were extracted from resting state fMRI data using a 144-ROI parcellation9. We performed a 2-stage consensus community detection on FC matrices to derive the individual- and group-level network community structures10. To characterize the network segregation of each child at each visit, we calculated the modularity, and the global and system/module level system segregation (SS) and participation coefficient (PC)11. We examined the longitudinal changes of these measures using linear mixed effect model and the associations with EF, MVPA and future brain measures.
To calculate functional connectivity (FC), region-of-interest (ROI) time series were extracted from resting state fMRI data using a 144-ROI parcellation9. We performed a 2-stage consensus community detection on FC matrices to derive the individual- and group-level network community structures10. To characterize the network segregation of each child at each visit, we calculated the modularity, and the global and system/module level system segregation (SS) and participation coefficient (PC)11. We examined the longitudinal changes of these measures using linear mixed effect model and the associations with EF, MVPA and future brain measures.
Results:
We observed the sensorimotor modules (i.e., visual and somatomotor) were already detected at younger ages (i.e., 4.5 and 6 YO), while the higher-order cognitive modules (i.e., salience/ventral attention [S/VA] and control) were formed at older ages (i.e., 7.5 and 10.5 YO) (Fig 1A).
Whole-brain functional network segregation was increased longitudinally represented by higher modularity/SS and lower PC (Fig 1B). When navigating at different system types, the SS of both sensorimotor and association systems was increased, indicating increased functional system differentiation across the sensorimotor-association axis (Fig 1C). At the module level, all the cortical modules showed declined PC over time. The default mode (DM) module showed increased SS over time, while the visual/dorsal attention A (VS+DAA) module showed decreased SS (Fig 1D), indicating more integration with other modules over time. Moreover, girls showed higher functional segregation, i.e., lower PC in the DM, control, S/VA-B and SC modules and higher SS in association system than boys.
More segregation of sensorimotor systems at earlier ages dominantly predicted better EF and longer MVPA (both cross-sectionally and future) (Fig 2, A&B). In contrast, as the children grew up, this role was predominantly replaced by the association systems (Fig 2, C&D). Moreover, preschool children with more segregation in the sensorimotor system at early ages (i.e., 4.5 to 6 YO) had more segregation in the association system in middle or late childhood (i.e., 7.5 to 10.5 YO) (Fig 2, E&F).
Whole-brain functional network segregation was increased longitudinally represented by higher modularity/SS and lower PC (Fig 1B). When navigating at different system types, the SS of both sensorimotor and association systems was increased, indicating increased functional system differentiation across the sensorimotor-association axis (Fig 1C). At the module level, all the cortical modules showed declined PC over time. The default mode (DM) module showed increased SS over time, while the visual/dorsal attention A (VS+DAA) module showed decreased SS (Fig 1D), indicating more integration with other modules over time. Moreover, girls showed higher functional segregation, i.e., lower PC in the DM, control, S/VA-B and SC modules and higher SS in association system than boys.
More segregation of sensorimotor systems at earlier ages dominantly predicted better EF and longer MVPA (both cross-sectionally and future) (Fig 2, A&B). In contrast, as the children grew up, this role was predominantly replaced by the association systems (Fig 2, C&D). Moreover, preschool children with more segregation in the sensorimotor system at early ages (i.e., 4.5 to 6 YO) had more segregation in the association system in middle or late childhood (i.e., 7.5 to 10.5 YO) (Fig 2, E&F).
·Fig.1 Changes of brain modular structure and segregation during development
·Fig.2 Differential behavior associations of the sensorimotor and association system segregation from preschool to late childhood
Conclusions:
Our study provides novel evidence characterizing the differential longitudinal maturation of brain sensorimotor and association network segregation, which underscore the important role of sensorimotor system to future motor and cognitive development across the childhood.
Higher Cognitive Functions:
Executive Function, Cognitive Control and Decision Making 2
Lifespan Development:
Normal Brain Development: Fetus to Adolescence 1
Keywords:
Cognition
Development
Motor
MRI
Other - functional segregation; executive function
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
Provide references using author date format
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