Examining Relationships between Functional and Structural Brain Network Architecture, Age, and Attention Skills in Early Childhood

Abstract

Early childhood is a critical period showing experience-dependent changes in brain structure and function. The complex link between the structural connectivity (SC) and functional connectivity (FC) of the brain is of particular interest, however, its relationship with both age and attention in early childhood is not well understood. In this study, children between the ages of 4 and 7, and at a one-year follow-up visit, underwent neuroimaging (diffusion-weighted and passive-viewing functional magnetic resonance imaging) and assessments for selective, sustained, and executive attention. We examined regional graph theory metrics and SC-FC coupling of the structural and functional networks. Partial least squares (PLS) was used to investigate longitudinal brain measure changes and cross-sectional associations with age and attention. We observed longitudinal changes in functional graph theory metrics and age-related decreases in SC modularity. Region-wise graph theory analyses revealed variable brain-behaviour relationships across the brain, highlighting regions where structural topology is linked to age and attentional performance. Furthermore, we identified SC as a dominant predictor of age when compared to FC and SC-FC coupling. The findings emphasise how early childhood is a dynamic period where cognitive functioning is intricately and predominantly linked to structural network features. Significance StatementThis study investigates early childhood brain development, particularly the changes in structural and functional connectivity of the brain and the relationship between them. We examined children aged 4 to 7 over a year, and used graph theory analyses to characterise variable developmental changes and brain-behaviour relationships across the brain. Our findings emphasise the nuanced and regionally specific relationship between brain network structure and behaviour in early childhood, highlighting regions where structural topology correlates with attentional performance. This research underscores the dynamic nature of childhood brain development and the predominant role of SC in cognitive maturation, providing valuable insights into typical developmental trajectories and potential targets for early intervention strategies.