Phase-based cortical synchrony is affected by prematurity

Yrjölä, P., Stjerna, S., Palva, J. M. , Vanhatalo, S. and Tokariev, A. (2022) Phase-based cortical synchrony is affected by prematurity. Cerebral Cortex, 32(10), pp. 2265-2276. (doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhab357) (PMID:34668522) (PMCID:PMC9113310)

Abstract

Inter-areal synchronization by phase–phase correlations (PPCs) of cortical oscillations mediates many higher neurocognitive functions, which are often affected by prematurity, a globally prominent neurodevelopmental risk factor. Here, we used electroencephalography to examine brain-wide cortical PPC networks at term-equivalent age, comparing human infants after early prematurity to a cohort of healthy controls. We found that prematurity affected these networks in a sleep state-specific manner, and the differences between groups were also frequency-selective, involving brain-wide connections. The strength of synchronization in these networks was predictive of clinical outcomes in the preterm infants. These findings show that prematurity affects PPC networks in a clinically significant manner, suggesting early functional biomarkers of later neurodevelopmental compromise that may be used in clinical or translational studies after early neonatal adversity.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Funding: Finnish Pediatric Foundation, the Finnish Academy (313242, 288220, 321235), Juselius Foundation, Aivosäätiö, Neuroscience Center at University of Helsinki, and Helsinki University Central Hospital.
• Keywords: Neurodevelopment, preterm infant, neonatal EEG, brain networks, phase coupling.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Palva, Professor Matias
• Authors: Yrjölä, P., Stjerna, S., Palva, J. M., Vanhatalo, S., and Tokariev, A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Cerebral Cortex
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 1047-3211
• ISSN (Online): 1460-2199
• Published Online: 20 October 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Cerebral Cortex 32(10): 2265-2276
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License