Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: The functional organization of the human brain is established early, yet the ontogeny of its large-scale functional gradients remains unclear. Using resting-state fMRI data from 714 neonates in the Developing Human Connectome Project, we mapped neonatal brain gradients via functional connectome harmonics (FCH). We identified adult-like sensory-to-multimodal and cognitive gradient patterns present at birth. Applying three FCH-derived metrics, entropy, power, and energy, we found that power and energy were higher in term-born compared to preterm neonates, while entropy was elevated in preterms. These metrics predicted up to ~30% of postmenstrual age, indicating their biological relevance. Our findings reveal that the neonatal brain possesses a robust gradient architecture underpinning early functional organization, offering novel biomarkers for assessing brain maturity and the impact of prematurity on neurodevelopment.
Authors: Aylin Rosberg, Isabella Mariani Wigley, Aaron Barron, Ilkka Suuronen, Harri Merisaari, Elmo P Pulli, Silja Luotonen, Ru Li, Wajiha Bano, Ashmeet Jolly, Hilyatushalihah Kholis Audah, Niloofar Hashempour, Elena Vartiainen, Hasse Karlsson, Linnea Karlsson, Richard A.I. Bethlehem, Jakob Seidlitz, Jakub Vohryzek, Joana Cabral, Dafnis Batalle, Morten L Kringelbach, Selen Atasoy, Jetro J Tuulari
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7140550918