RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Infant brain regional cerebral blood flow dynamics supporting emergence of vital functional networks
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.02.08.430158
DO 10.1101/2021.02.08.430158
A1 Qinlin Yu
A1 Minhui Ouyang
A1 John A. Detre
A1 Huiying Kang
A1 Di Hu
A1 Bo Hong
A1 Fang Fang
A1 Yun Peng
A1 Hao Huang
YR 2022
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/03/21/2021.02.08.430158.abstract
AB Human infancy is characterized by most rapid cerebral blood flow (rCBF) increases across lifespan and emergence of a fundamental brain system default-mode network (DMN). However, how infant rCBF change spatiotemporally across the brain and how the rCBF dynamics support emergence of vital functional networks such as DMN remains unknown. Here, by acquiring cutting-edge multi-modal MRI including pseudo-continuous arterial-spin-labeled perfusion MRI and resting-state functional MRI of infants aged 0 to 24 months, we elucidated unprecedented 4D spatiotemporal infant rCBF framework and region-specific physiology-function coupling across infancy. We found faster rCBF increases in the DMN than other regions. We also found strongly coupled increases of rCBF and network strength specifically in the DMN, suggesting faster local blood flow increase to meet extra neuronal metabolic demands in the DMN maturation. These results offer insights into physiological mechanism of brain functional network emergence and have important implications in altered network maturation in brain disorders.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.