Ortex (PCC), precuneus and parietal cortex with frontal structures emerging and

Ortex (PCC), precuneus and parietal cortex with frontal structures emerging and increasing in connection strength alongside increased myelination across development [17?1]. Rudimentary posterior DMN connectivity patterns are observed in term infants, but not preterm RM-493 web infants (even at term-equivalent age), suggesting the late third trimester constitutes an important developmental epoch for DMN formation [22]. In addition, others have shown progressive formation of DMN connections between 29 and 40 weeks gestational age [23]. This finding is bmjopen-2015-010112 in distinction to the earlier emergence of other functional networks (e.g. auditory, visual and Pamapimod msds somatosensory) [18]. Highly clustered networks constituting early forms of resting state networks including salience, centralexecutive and default mode networks are apparent at 30 weeks’ gestational age, and these highly organized rich-club networks may be more vulnerable to injury during the late preterm period [16]. Therefore, targeted examination of resting state network formation during the late preterm period in this study is logical due to its later formation and concomitant vulnerability to insults related to prematurity.Vulnerability of Posterior Default Mode Network in PrematurityPreterm birth-related effects demonstrate a posterior predilection with greater grey matter reductions in the parieto-occipital cortices and white matter injury predominantly affecting the posterior limb of the internal capsule and posterior portions of the corpus callosum [24?6]. Animal models of hypoxic-ischemic injury to model prematurity support this posterior injury bias with reactive astrocytes and microglia in these regions [27]. Because of the aforementioned predilection for preterm brain injury to the posterior portions of the cerebrum and pnas.1408988111 the importance of the posterior DMN formation during infancy, this study focused on examining differences between children born at late preterm versus term within elements of the posterior DMN. To our knowledge, this is the first time that structural and functional connectivity have been examined simultaneously to assess the consequence of vulnerabilities during the late preterm period of brain development. We specifically focus on posterior cortical vulnerability in relation to resting state networks from a seed-based approach examining the posteromedial cortex and lateral parietal cortex.Materials and Methods SubjectsAs part of a longitudinal international collaborative investigation of the genetic and environmental influences of prematurity on long-term neurocognitive functioning and health outcomes, 19 preadolescent pairs of twins (38 participants aged 9?3 years) were recruited from Minas Gerais, a developing region in Northeastern Brazil. The preadolescent twin pairs were recruited through an existing twin registry by newspaper advertisements. The registry is comprised of twins who had participated in prior studies investigating genetic influences on oral health [28, 29]. Sampling for this longitudinal program aims to balance zygosity (i.e., equal numbers of monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs), prematurity, term birth, and gender.Ethics StatementResearch protocols were approved by local Institutional Review Boards in the United States (New York University, University of Pittsburgh and University of Southern California) andPLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0130686 June 22,3 /Altered Brain Connectivity in Late Preterm ChildrenMontes Claros, Brazil (Universidade Estadual de.Ortex (PCC), precuneus and parietal cortex with frontal structures emerging and increasing in connection strength alongside increased myelination across development [17?1]. Rudimentary posterior DMN connectivity patterns are observed in term infants, but not preterm infants (even at term-equivalent age), suggesting the late third trimester constitutes an important developmental epoch for DMN formation [22]. In addition, others have shown progressive formation of DMN connections between 29 and 40 weeks gestational age [23]. This finding is bmjopen-2015-010112 in distinction to the earlier emergence of other functional networks (e.g. auditory, visual and somatosensory) [18]. Highly clustered networks constituting early forms of resting state networks including salience, centralexecutive and default mode networks are apparent at 30 weeks’ gestational age, and these highly organized rich-club networks may be more vulnerable to injury during the late preterm period [16]. Therefore, targeted examination of resting state network formation during the late preterm period in this study is logical due to its later formation and concomitant vulnerability to insults related to prematurity.Vulnerability of Posterior Default Mode Network in PrematurityPreterm birth-related effects demonstrate a posterior predilection with greater grey matter reductions in the parieto-occipital cortices and white matter injury predominantly affecting the posterior limb of the internal capsule and posterior portions of the corpus callosum [24?6]. Animal models of hypoxic-ischemic injury to model prematurity support this posterior injury bias with reactive astrocytes and microglia in these regions [27]. Because of the aforementioned predilection for preterm brain injury to the posterior portions of the cerebrum and pnas.1408988111 the importance of the posterior DMN formation during infancy, this study focused on examining differences between children born at late preterm versus term within elements of the posterior DMN. To our knowledge, this is the first time that structural and functional connectivity have been examined simultaneously to assess the consequence of vulnerabilities during the late preterm period of brain development. We specifically focus on posterior cortical vulnerability in relation to resting state networks from a seed-based approach examining the posteromedial cortex and lateral parietal cortex.Materials and Methods SubjectsAs part of a longitudinal international collaborative investigation of the genetic and environmental influences of prematurity on long-term neurocognitive functioning and health outcomes, 19 preadolescent pairs of twins (38 participants aged 9?3 years) were recruited from Minas Gerais, a developing region in Northeastern Brazil. The preadolescent twin pairs were recruited through an existing twin registry by newspaper advertisements. The registry is comprised of twins who had participated in prior studies investigating genetic influences on oral health [28, 29]. Sampling for this longitudinal program aims to balance zygosity (i.e., equal numbers of monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs), prematurity, term birth, and gender.Ethics StatementResearch protocols were approved by local Institutional Review Boards in the United States (New York University, University of Pittsburgh and University of Southern California) andPLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0130686 June 22,3 /Altered Brain Connectivity in Late Preterm ChildrenMontes Claros, Brazil (Universidade Estadual de.