A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Maternal prenatal distress exposure negatively associates with the stability of neonatal frontoparietal network




AuthorsTuulari Jetro J., Rajasilta Olli, Cabral Joana, Kringelbach Morten L., Karlsson Linnea, Karlsson Hasse

PublisherTaylor & Francis

Publication year2024

JournalStress

Journal name in sourceSTRESS-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ON THE BIOLOGY OF STRESS

Article number 2275207

Volume27

Issue1

ISSN1025-3890

eISSN1607-8888

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1080/10253890.2023.2275207

Web address https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10253890.2023.2275207

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/182188828


Abstract

Maternal prenatal distress (PD), frequently defined as in utero prenatal stress exposure (PSE) to the developing fetus, influences the developing brain and numerous associations between PSE and brain structure have been described both in neonates and in older children. Previous studies addressing PSE-linked alterations in neonates’ brain activity have focused on connectivity analyses from predefined seed regions, but the effects of PSE at the level of distributed functional networks remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the impact of prenatal distress on the spatial and temporal properties of functional networks detected in functional MRI data from 20 naturally sleeping, term-born (age 25.85 ± 7.72 days, 11 males), healthy neonates. First, we performed group level independent component analysis (GICA) to evaluate an association between PD and the identified functional networks. Second, we searched for an association with PD at the level of the stability of functional networks over time using leading eigenvector dynamics analysis (LEiDA). No statistically significant associations were detected at the spatial level for the GICA-derived networks. However, at the dynamic level, LEiDA revealed that maternal PD negatively associated with the stability of a frontoparietal network. These results imply that maternal PD may influence the stability of frontoparietal connections in neonatal brain network dynamics and adds to the cumulating evidence that frontal areas are especially sensitive to PSE. We advocate for early preventive intervention strategies regarding pregnant mothers. Nevertheless, future research venues are required to assess optimal intervention timing and methods for maximum benefit.


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Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 20:19