Development of Neonatal Functional Brain Network Organisation and Its Association with Childhood Neurodevelopmental Outcomes

The human brain undergoes rapid dynamic changes in the neonatal period that are essential for later cognitive and behavioural performance. Using resting-state fMRI data from 394 neonates (325 term-born, 69 preterm-born) within the first month after birth, we characterised the early development of functional network organisation, the effects of preterm birth, and the association between neonatal functional organisation and later neurodevelopmental outcomes in infancy (18 months) and childhood (4-6 years). We found increased functional integration and segregation across a wide range of functional sub-networks and increased mean functional connectivity strength (mean FCS) within the subcortical and cerebellar regions with increasing PMA at scan. Compared with term-born neonates, preterm-born neonates showed significantly lower mean FCS, functional integration and segregation globally. We further showed that whilst neonatal functional brain network organisation was not associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes measured during infancy (18 months), it was associated with later neurodevelopmental outcomes in early childhood (4-6 years). Specifically, higher functional integration and segregation at birth were linked with lower SDQ total difficulties score at 4-6 years. Our findings suggest that neonatal functional brain organisation reflects not only transient developmental processes, but also stable individual differences that provide insight into neurodevelopmental outcomes in later childhood.