Interruptions to neurodevelopment during the perinatal period may have long-lasting consequences. However, to be able to investigate deviations in the foundation of proper connectivity and functional circuits, we need a measure of how this architecture evolves in the typically developing brain. To this end, in a cohort of 241 term-born infants, we used magnetic resonance imaging to estimate cortical profiles based on morphometry and microstructure over the perinatal period (37–44 weeks postmenstrual age, PMA). Using the covariance of these profiles as a measure of inter-areal network similarity (morphometric similarity networks; MSN), we clustered these networks into distinct modules. The resulting modules were consistent and symmetric, and corresponded to known functional distinctions, including sensory–motor, limbic, and association regions, and were spatially mapped onto known cytoarchitectonic tissue classes. Posterior regions became more morphometrically similar with increasing age, while peri-cingulate and medial temporal regions became more dissimilar. Network strength was associated with age: Within-network similarity increased over age suggesting emerging network distinction. These changes in cortical network architecture over an 8-week period are consistent with, and likely underpin, the highly dynamic processes occurring during this critical period. The resulting cortical profiles might provide normative reference to investigate atypical early brain development.

中文翻译：

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新生儿大脑中微结构和形态皮质轮廓的发展。

围产期神经发育的中断可能会产生长期的后果。然而，为了能够调查正确连接和功能电路基础的偏差，我们需要衡量这种架构在典型发育的大脑中是如何演变的。为此，在一组 241 名足月出生婴儿中，我们使用磁共振成像基于围产期（月经后 37-44 周，PMA）的形态学和微观结构来估计皮质轮廓。使用这些配置文件的协方差作为区域间网络相似性（形态相似性网络；MSN）的度量，我们将这些网络聚类为不同的模块。生成的模块是一致且对称的，并且对应于已知的功能区别，包括感觉运动、边缘和关联区域，并在空间上映射到已知的细胞结构组织类别。随着年龄的增长，后部区域在形态学上变得更加相似，而扣带周和内侧颞区变得更加不同。网络强度与年龄相关：网络内相似性随着年龄的增长而增加，表明网络差异正在出现。8 周内皮层网络结构的这些变化与这一关键时期发生的高度动态过程是一致的，并且可能是其基础。由此产生的皮质轮廓可能为研究非典型早期大脑发育提供规范参考。网络强度与年龄相关：网络内相似性随着年龄的增长而增加，表明网络差异正在出现。8 周内皮层网络结构的这些变化与这一关键时期发生的高度动态过程是一致的，并且可能是其基础。由此产生的皮质轮廓可能为研究非典型早期大脑发育提供规范参考。网络强度与年龄相关：网络内相似性随着年龄的增长而增加，表明网络差异正在出现。8 周内皮层网络结构的这些变化与这一关键时期发生的高度动态过程是一致的，并且可能是其基础。由此产生的皮质轮廓可能为研究非典型早期大脑发育提供规范参考。