A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Maternal psychological distress associates with alterations in resting-state low-frequency fluctuations and distal functional connectivity of the neonate medial prefrontal cortex
Authors: Rajasilta Olli, Häkkinen Suvi, Björnsdotter Malin, Scheinin Noora M, Lehtola Satu J, Saunavaara Jani, Parkkola Riitta, Lähdesmäki Tuire, Karlsson Linnea, Karlsson Hasse, Tuulari Jetro J
Publisher: WILEY
Publication year: 2023
Journal: European Journal of Neuroscience
Journal name in source: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
Journal acronym: EUR J NEUROSCI
Volume: 57
Issue: 2
First page : 242
Last page: 257
Number of pages: 16
ISSN: 0953-816X
eISSN: 1460-9568
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.15882
Web address : https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ejn.15882
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/178113273
Prenatal stress exposure (PSE) has been observed to exert a programming effect on the developing infant brain, possibly with long-lasting consequences on temperament, cognitive functions and the risk for developing psychiatric disorders. Several prior studies have revealed that PSE associates with alterations in neonate functional connectivity in the prefrontal regions and amygdala. In this study, we explored whether maternal psychological symptoms measured during the 24th gestational week had associations with neonate resting-state network metrics. Twenty-one neonates (nine female) underwent resting-state fMRI scanning (mean gestation-corrected age at scan 26.95 days) to assess fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo). The ReHo/fALFF maps were used in multiple regression analysis to investigate whether maternal self-reported anxiety and/or depressive symptoms associate with neonate functional brain features. Maternal psychological distress (composite score of depressive and anxiety symptoms) was positively associated with fALFF in the neonate medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Anxiety and depressive symptoms, assessed separately, exhibited similar but weaker associations. Post hoc seed-based connectivity analyses further showed that distal connectivity of mPFC covaried with PSE. No associations were found between neonate ReHo and PSE. These results offer preliminary evidence that PSE may affect functional features of the developing brain during gestation.
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