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Cited by 284Functional Brain Connectivity StudiesAdvanced Neuroimaging Techniques and ApplicationsAutism Spectrum Disorder Research

Developmental connectomics from infancy through early childhood

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Cao, Miao, Huang, Hao, He, Yong·2017·Trends in Neurosciences
DOI 10.1016/j.tins.2017.06.003PMC PMC5975640
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Abstract

The human brain undergoes rapid growth in both structure and function from infancy through early childhood, and this significantly influences cognitive and behavioral development in later life. A newly emerging research framework, developmental connectomics, provides unprecedented opportunities for exploring the developing brain through non-invasive mapping of structural and functional connectivity patterns. Within this framework, we review recent neuroimaging and neurophysiological studies investigating connectome development from 20 postmenstrual weeks to 5 years of age. Specifically, we highlight five fundamental principles of brain network development during the critical first years of life, emphasizing strengthened segregation/integration balance, a remarkable hierarchical order from primary to higher-order regions, unparalleled structural and functional maturations, substantial individual variability, and high vulnerability to risk factors and developmental disorders.

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  • Researchers have implemented dMRI tractography investigations across broad brain developmental stages from middle fetal stage to adulthood.

    “In the past decade, researchers have implemented dMRI tractography investigations across broad brain developmental stages ranging from the middle fetal stage to adulthood (Cao et al., 2017; Dubois et al., 2014; Gilmore et al., 2018; Huang, 2010; Lebel and Deoni, 2018; Lebel et al., 2019; Qiu et al., 2015; Zhao et al., 2019b).”

    From Quantitative mapping of the brain’s structural connectivity using diffusion MRI tractography: A review (2022) · cites this paper as Cao et al., 2017

    The section “Early Development of the Human Brain from a Connectome Perspective” describes studies using diffusion MRI from 20 postmenstrual weeks to age five, and the References list a fetal MR tractography study. The paper therefore supports investigation beginning around mid-gestation, but it does not describe a span of dMRI tractography investigations extending to adulthood; its discussion of adult tractography is a methodological comparison. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Cao, M., Huang, H., & He, Y.
Affiliations
  • Beijing Normal University (CN)
  • Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (US)
ORCID
Venue
Trends in Neurosciences
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-08
Volume
40
Issue
8
Pages
494-506
ISSN
0166-2236 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.tins.2017.06.003
PMC
PMC5975640
OpenAlex
W2726168273
Cited by
284
References
15
Citations by year
2026: 25 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 58 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
3.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Trends in Neurosciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH092535)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (U54HD086984)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Keywords
brain network development, infancy, early childhood, structural connectivity, functional connectivity, hierarchical brain organization, interindividual variability, developmental disorders, risk factors, cognitive development
MeSH terms
Brain, Child, Preschool, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Neural Pathways, Connectome

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