Brain functional networks undergo substantial development and refinement during the first years of life. Yet, the maturational pathways of functional network development remain poorly understood. Using resting-state fMRI data acquired during natural sleep from 24 typically developing toddlers, ages 1.5–3.5 years, we aimed to examine the large-scale resting-state functional networks and their relationship with age and developmental skills. Specifically, two network organization indices reflecting network connectivity and spatial variability were derived. Our results revealed that reduced spatial variability or increased network homogeneity in one of the default mode network components was associated with age, with older children displaying less spatially variable posterior DMN subcomponent, consistent with the notion of increased spatial and functional specialization. Further, greater network homogeneity in higher-order functional networks, including the posterior default mode, salience, and language networks, was associated with more advanced developmental skills measured with a standardized assessment of early learning, regardless of age. These results not only improve our understanding of brain functional network development during toddler years, but also inform the relationship between brain network organization and emerging cognitive and behavioral skills.

大脑功能网络在生命的最初几年经历了实质性的发展和完善。然而，功能网络发展的成熟途径仍然知之甚少。使用在自然睡眠期间从 24 名年龄在 1.5-3.5 岁的典型发育幼儿中获取的静息态 fMRI 数据，我们旨在检查大规模静息态功能网络及其与年龄和发育技能的关系。具体而言，导出了反映网络连通性和空间可变性的两个网络组织指数。我们的结果表明，默认模式网络组件之一的空间变异性降低或网络同质性增加与年龄相关，年龄较大的儿童显示出较少的空间可变后部 DMN 子组件，与增加空间和功能专业化的概念一致。此外，包括后验默认模式、显着性和语言网络在内的高阶功能网络中更大的网络同质性与更先进的发展技能相关，这些发展技能通过早期学习的标准化评估来衡量，无论年龄大小。这些结果不仅提高了我们对幼儿时期大脑功能网络发展的理解，而且还提供了大脑网络组织与新兴认知和行为技能之间的关系。不论年纪。这些结果不仅提高了我们对幼儿时期大脑功能网络发展的理解，而且还提供了大脑网络组织与新兴认知和行为技能之间的关系。不论年纪。这些结果不仅提高了我们对幼儿时期大脑功能网络发展的理解，而且还提供了大脑网络组织与新兴认知和行为技能之间的关系。