Stressful experiences are linked to neurodevelopment. There is growing interest in the role of stress in the connectivity between the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a circuit that subserves automatic emotion regulation. However, the specific timing and mechanisms that underlie the association between stress and amygdala–mPFC connectivity are unclear. Many factors, including variations in fetal exposure to maternal stress, appear to affect early developing brain circuitry. However, few studies have examined the associations of stress and amygdala–mPFC connectivity in early life, when the brain is most plastic and sensitive to environmental influence. In this longitudinal pilot study, we characterized the association between prenatal stress and amygdala–mPFC connectivity in young infants (approximately age 5 weeks). A final sample of 33 women who provided data on preconception and prenatal stress during their pregnancy returned with their offspring for a magnetic resonance imaging scan session, which enabled us to characterize amygdala–mPFC structural and functional connectivity as a function of prenatal stress. Increased prenatal stress was associated with decreased functional connectivity and increased structural connectivity between the amygdala and mPFC. These results provide insight into the influence of prenatal maternal stress on the early development of this critical regulatory circuitry.

压力经历与神经发育有关。人们越来越关注压力在杏仁核和内侧前额叶皮层（mPFC）之间的连通性中的作用，该回路可自动调节情绪。但是，尚不清楚压力与杏仁核-mPFC连通性之间关联的具体时机和机制。许多因素，包括胎儿对母亲压力的暴露程度的变化，似乎会影响早期发育的大脑回路。但是，很少有研究检查在早期生命中压力与杏仁核-mPFC连通性之间的联系，那时大脑是最可塑的并且对环境影响敏感。在这项纵向试验研究中，我们表征了婴儿（约5周龄）的产前压力与杏仁核-mPFC连接之间的关联。最终的33名妇女在怀孕期间提供了有关孕前和产前压力的数据，并随其子孙后代进行了磁共振成像扫描，这使我们能够将杏仁核–mPFC的结构和功能连通性表征为产前压力的函数。产前压力增加与杏仁核和mPFC之间的功能连接性降低和结构连接性增加有关。这些结果提供了对产前产妇压力对该关键调节电路的早期发展的影响的洞察力。这使我们能够将杏仁核–mPFC的结构和功能连通性表征为产前压力的函数。产前压力增加与杏仁核和mPFC之间的功能连接性降低和结构连接性增加有关。这些结果提供了对产前产妇压力对该关键调节电路的早期发展的影响的洞察力。这使我们能够将杏仁核–mPFC的结构和功能连通性表征为产前压力的函数。产前压力增加与杏仁核和mPFC之间的功能连接性降低和结构连接性增加有关。这些结果提供了对产前产妇压力对该关键调节电路的早期发展的影响的洞察力。