Infant functional connectivity fingerprints predict long-term language and pre-literacy outcomes

Abstract

Functional connectivity analyses can delineate brain organization in infancy, enabling the characterization of early brain characteristics associated with subsequent behavioral outcomes. Previous studies have identified specific functional networks of infant brains that underlie cognitive abilities and pathophysiology subsequently observed in toddlers. However, it is unknown whether and how functional networks emerging in infancy contribute to the development of higher-order complex functions of language and literacy. Employing a five-year longitudinal imaging project starting in infancy, the current study utilizes resting-state functional connectivity MRI to examine prospective associations between infant functional connectivity fingerprints (FCF) and subsequent school-age language and foundational literacy skills. Utilizing multivariate pattern analyses, we demonstrate that FCF patterns associated with language-related brain regions established during the first year of life are prospectively associated with oral language and phonological skills at a mean age of 6.5. Moreover, these longitudinal associations are preserved when key environmental influences are controlled for and are independent of emergent language abilities in infancy, suggesting early development of functional network characteristics in supporting the acquisition of high-order language and pre-literacy skills. Altogether, the current results highlight the importance of functional organization established in infancy as a neural scaffold underlying the protracted development of complex cognitive functions.

Functional dissociation of the language network and other cognition in early childhood

“…There were no reliable increases in within-vs. between-network FC cross-sectionally and longitudinally, which suggests that specificity of connections are more static than neural specificity, at least for the domain of language. This supports previous work testing the connectivity-fingerprints hypothesis, where connectivity precedes and perhaps drives the functional organization and specificity of cortex (Hannagan et al, 2015;Li et al, 2020;Saygin et al, 2016;Yu et al, 2020).…”

“…Finally, when examining the connectivity within and between the language and MD networks, we found no reliable increases in within- vs. between-network FC cross-sectionally and longitudinally. This suggests that specificity of connections may be more static than neural specialization, at least for the domain of language, supporting previous work testing the connectivity-fingerprints hypothesis, where connectivity precedes and perhaps drives the functional organization and specificity of cortex (Hannagan et al, 2015; Li et al, 2020; Saygin et al, 2016; Yu et al, 2020). Prior longitudinal work has suggested that changes in within-network connectivity is associated with changes in language performance, as opposed to age (Xiao, Brauer, et al, 2016; Xiao, Friederici, et al, 2016); however, we could not test that hypothesis with our data.…”

Functional dissociation of the language network and other cognition in early childhood

“…Finally, when examining the connectivity within and between the language and MD networks, we found no reliable increases in within‐ versus between‐network FC cross‐sectionally and longitudinally. This suggests that specificity of connections may be more static than neural specialization, at least for the domain of language, supporting previous work testing the connectivity‐fingerprints hypothesis, where connectivity precedes and perhaps drives the functional organization and specificity of cortex (Hannagan et al, 2015 ; Li et al, 2020 ; Saygin et al, 2016 ; Yu et al, 2020 ). Prior longitudinal work has suggested that changes in within‐network connectivity is associated with changes in language performance, as opposed to age (Xiao, Brauer, et al, 2016 ; Xiao, Friederici, et al, 2016 ); however, we could not test that hypothesis with our data.…”

Individual Variability in the Innate Functional Organization of the Human Brain

“…Second, the networks we have identified are putative functional networks with nomenclature based on topography or overlap with adult networks. Longitudinal studies could identify the relationship between these networks and various mental functions as they manifest, e.g., measured via behavioral measures, such as language and literary skills (Yu et al, 2020), and/or neural measures, such as task-based fMRI (Saygin et al, 2016). Third, the genetic analyses are based on adult tissue samples, and are strictly exploratory.…”