Pub Date : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101627
Margaret A. Sheridan , Brenden Tervo-Clemmens , Ece Demir-Lira , Anthony Steven Dick , Jamie L. Hanson , Leah H. Somerville , Chad M. Sylvester , Moriah E. Thomason , Sarah Whittle , Deanna M. Barch , Beatriz Luna
{"title":"Advances on design considerations in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience","authors":"Margaret A. Sheridan , Brenden Tervo-Clemmens , Ece Demir-Lira , Anthony Steven Dick , Jamie L. Hanson , Leah H. Somerville , Chad M. Sylvester , Moriah E. Thomason , Sarah Whittle , Deanna M. Barch , Beatriz Luna","doi":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101627","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101627","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49083,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 101627"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145318639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-26DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101647
Elmehdi Hamouda , Wei Mao , Dan Xu , Keith Kendrick , Xi Jiang
Preterm birth disrupts the gyrification process during the third trimester of pregnancy. Meanwhile, accumulating studies have highlighted the significant structural and functional differences between the folding patterns of cortical gyri and sulci, suggesting that they may play distinct roles in brain function. This study aimed to explore how preterm birth influences the structural and functional patterns of gyral and sulcal regions. Using a Developing Human Connectome Project (dHCP) open dataset including both full-term and preterm neonates (207 subjects), we parcellated each brain region into gyri and sulci based on the vertex curvature values. Structural connectivity was assessed via diffusion MRI (dMRI) images, and functional differences via fMRI BOLD signals using synchronization measures, nodal degree, and network-based statistics (NBS). Findings revealed that preterm birth reduces structural connectivity between gyri and lowers the ratio of intra-gyri/gyri-sulci connections. This ratio was significantly associated with gestational age, birth weight, and global synchronization. NBS analysis revealed a cluster of hypo-connections, mostly gyri-to-sulci connections. Overall, results suggest that preterm birth affects gyri and sulci differently, potentially disrupting their distinct functional roles, and offering new insights into prematurity’s impact on brain function.
{"title":"Preterm birth differentially impacts structural and functional connectivity of cortical gyri and sulci","authors":"Elmehdi Hamouda , Wei Mao , Dan Xu , Keith Kendrick , Xi Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101647","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101647","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Preterm birth disrupts the gyrification process during the third trimester of pregnancy. Meanwhile, accumulating studies have highlighted the significant structural and functional differences between the folding patterns of cortical gyri and sulci, suggesting that they may play distinct roles in brain function. This study aimed to explore how preterm birth influences the structural and functional patterns of gyral and sulcal regions. Using a Developing Human Connectome Project (dHCP) open dataset including both full-term and preterm neonates (207 subjects), we parcellated each brain region into gyri and sulci based on the vertex curvature values. Structural connectivity was assessed via diffusion MRI (dMRI) images, and functional differences via fMRI BOLD signals using synchronization measures, nodal degree, and network-based statistics (NBS). Findings revealed that preterm birth reduces structural connectivity between gyri and lowers the ratio of intra-gyri/gyri-sulci connections. This ratio was significantly associated with gestational age, birth weight, and global synchronization. NBS analysis revealed a cluster of hypo-connections, mostly gyri-to-sulci connections. Overall, results suggest that preterm birth affects gyri and sulci differently, potentially disrupting their distinct functional roles, and offering new insights into prematurity’s impact on brain function.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49083,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 101647"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101645
Yiyi Wang , Marc Colomer , Hyesung Grace Hwang , Enda Tan , Nathan A. Fox , Amanda Woodward
What language a person speaks has been shown to divide even infants' worlds. However, open questions remain about what neural processes are involved in the differentiation of native and foreign speakers in the infant's brain. This study used electroencephalography (EEG) to examine the neural responses related to top-down attention (frontal theta synchronization), action processing (mu desynchronization), and approach-avoidance (frontal alpha asymmetry) of 8- to 12-month-old infants as they observed a native (English) speaker and a foreign (French) speaker perform a goal-directed action (i.e., grasping objects). We further examined whether infants’ language exposure modulated these neural responses. We found that monolingual infants exhibited stronger mu desynchronization when observing a native (versus foreign) speaker perform goal-directed actions. In contrast, non-monolingual (i.e., hearing more than one language) infants did not show a difference in mu desynchronization between native and foreign speakers. No language group and exposure effects were found for frontal theta and frontal alpha symmetry. These results suggest that infants’ emerging differentiation of native and foreign speakers is also manifested in their neural processing of goal-directed actions and that this neural action processing is shaped by early exposure to different languages.
{"title":"Language exposure predicts infants’ neural processing of others’ actions based on language group","authors":"Yiyi Wang , Marc Colomer , Hyesung Grace Hwang , Enda Tan , Nathan A. Fox , Amanda Woodward","doi":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101645","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101645","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>What language a person speaks has been shown to divide even infants' worlds. However, open questions remain about what neural processes are involved in the differentiation of native and foreign speakers in the infant's brain. This study used electroencephalography (EEG) to examine the neural responses related to top-down attention (frontal theta synchronization), action processing (mu desynchronization), and approach-avoidance (frontal alpha asymmetry) of 8- to 12-month-old infants as they observed a native (English) speaker and a foreign (French) speaker perform a goal-directed action (i.e., grasping objects). We further examined whether infants’ language exposure modulated these neural responses. We found that monolingual infants exhibited stronger mu desynchronization when observing a native (versus foreign) speaker perform goal-directed actions. In contrast, non-monolingual (i.e., hearing more than one language) infants did not show a difference in mu desynchronization between native and foreign speakers. No language group and exposure effects were found for frontal theta and frontal alpha symmetry. These results suggest that infants’ emerging differentiation of native and foreign speakers is also manifested in their neural processing of goal-directed actions and that this neural action processing is shaped by early exposure to different languages.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49083,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 101645"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145580104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Adolescent adversity could have lasting effects on mental health, potentially through neurodevelopmental changes. This study used a random intercept cross-lagged panel model to examine how adverse experiences, brain development, and behavioural and emotional problems are linked over time in the ABCD study (N ≈ 12.000, USA). We found a positive association between family conflict and behavioural and emotional problems: family conflict was related to increased problems at 10 – 12 years (β = 0.06, p = 0.002), and vice versa. At 12 – 14 years, behavioural and emotional problems were also related to increased family conflict (β = 0.20, p < 0.001). Neighbourhood perception was related to behavioural and emotional problems and white matter microstructure. At 10 – 12 years, low neighbourhood safety was related to lower levels of white matter microstructure (β = −0.04, p = 0.041) and vice versa. It was also associated with more behavioural and emotional problems (β = 0.05, p = 0.015) and vice versa. Behavioural and emotional problems were positively associated with neighbourhood perception for adolescents with more friends (χ²(1) = 9.82, pBonf. = 0.02). These findings underscore the need to consider socio-environmental adversity when examining adolescent brain development and mental health.
青春期的逆境可能会对心理健康产生持久的影响，可能是通过神经发育的变化。本研究使用随机截距交叉滞后面板模型来研究ABCD研究中不良经历、大脑发育、行为和情绪问题如何随时间联系在一起（N ≈ 12.000，美国）。我们发现家庭冲突与行为和情绪问题之间存在正相关关系：家庭冲突与10 - 12岁的问题增加有关（β = 0.06, p = 0.002），反之亦然。在12 - 14岁时，行为和情绪问题也与家庭冲突增加有关（β = 0.20, p <； 0.001）。邻里感知与行为、情绪问题和白质微观结构有关。在10 ~ 12岁时，低邻里安全与较低的白质微结构水平相关（β = - 0.04, p = 0.041），反之亦然。它还与更多的行为和情绪问题相关（β = 0.05, p = 0.015），反之亦然。对于朋友较多的青少年，行为和情绪问题与邻里感知呈正相关(χ²(1)= 9.82,pBonf。= 0.02)。这些发现强调了在检查青少年大脑发育和心理健康时考虑社会环境逆境的必要性。
{"title":"Longitudinal associations between adolescent adversity, brain development and behavioural and emotional problems","authors":"Ayla Pollmann , Divyangana Rakesh , Delia Fuhrmann","doi":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101646","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101646","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Adolescent adversity could have lasting effects on mental health, potentially through neurodevelopmental changes. This study used a random intercept cross-lagged panel model to examine how adverse experiences, brain development, and behavioural and emotional problems are linked over time in the ABCD study (N ≈ 12.000, USA). We found a positive association between family conflict and behavioural and emotional problems: family conflict was related to increased problems at 10 – 12 years (β = 0.06, p = 0.002), and vice versa. At 12 – 14 years, behavioural and emotional problems were also related to increased family conflict (β = 0.20, p < 0.001). Neighbourhood perception was related to behavioural and emotional problems and white matter microstructure. At 10 – 12 years, low neighbourhood safety was related to lower levels of white matter microstructure (β = −0.04, p = 0.041) and vice versa. It was also associated with more behavioural and emotional problems (β = 0.05, p = 0.015) and vice versa. Behavioural and emotional problems were positively associated with neighbourhood perception for adolescents with more friends (χ²(1) = 9.82, p<sub>Bonf.</sub> = 0.02). These findings underscore the need to consider socio-environmental adversity when examining adolescent brain development and mental health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49083,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 101646"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145580103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-14DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101644
Julia Moser , Alyssa K. Labonte , Thomas J. Madison , Lana Hantzsch , Han H.N. Pham , Kimberly B. Weldon , M. Catalina Camacho , Rebecca F. Schwarzlose , Sanju Koirala , Jacob T. Lundquist , Sooyeon Sung , Cristian Morales Carrasco , Robert J.M. Hermosillo , Steven M. Nelson , Jed T. Elison , Damien A. Fair , Chad M. Sylvester
Adaptively responding to salient stimuli in the environment is a fundamental feature of cognitive development in early life, which is enabled by the developing brain. Understanding individual variability in how the brain supports this fundamental process is essential for uncovering neurodevelopmental trajectories and potential neurodevelopmental risks. In the present study, we used a precision functional imaging approach to probe activation in response to salient auditory stimuli and its relation to brain functional networks in individual infants. A minimum of 60 min of fMRI BOLD data with an auditory oddball paradigm were collected in ten infants with a mean postmenstrual age of 48 weeks. Results demonstrate the feasibility of conducting a precision functional imaging study to investigate individual specific responses to salient stimuli in infants. While responses to the auditory oddball were consistent across individuals in auditory processing areas, responses across the rest of the brain differed across individuals in their magnitude and time to peak. Individual specific response patterns appeared to be relatively stable and differed from other participant’s response patterns, despite fluctuations across runs. Commonalities and differences between individuals demonstrated in this sample contribute to our understanding of how the developing brain instantiates processing of salient stimuli. In this context, individual specific response patterns could be a promising target for biomarkers of normative brain and cognitive development.
{"title":"Precision functional neuroimaging reveals individually specific auditory responses in infants","authors":"Julia Moser , Alyssa K. Labonte , Thomas J. Madison , Lana Hantzsch , Han H.N. Pham , Kimberly B. Weldon , M. Catalina Camacho , Rebecca F. Schwarzlose , Sanju Koirala , Jacob T. Lundquist , Sooyeon Sung , Cristian Morales Carrasco , Robert J.M. Hermosillo , Steven M. Nelson , Jed T. Elison , Damien A. Fair , Chad M. Sylvester","doi":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101644","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101644","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Adaptively responding to salient stimuli in the environment is a fundamental feature of cognitive development in early life, which is enabled by the developing brain. Understanding individual variability in how the brain supports this fundamental process is essential for uncovering neurodevelopmental trajectories and potential neurodevelopmental risks. In the present study, we used a precision functional imaging approach to probe activation in response to salient auditory stimuli and its relation to brain functional networks in individual infants. A minimum of 60 min of fMRI BOLD data with an auditory oddball paradigm were collected in ten infants with a mean postmenstrual age of 48 weeks. Results demonstrate the feasibility of conducting a precision functional imaging study to investigate individual specific responses to salient stimuli in infants. While responses to the auditory oddball were consistent across individuals in auditory processing areas, responses across the rest of the brain differed across individuals in their magnitude and time to peak. Individual specific response patterns appeared to be relatively stable and differed from other participant’s response patterns, despite fluctuations across runs. Commonalities and differences between individuals demonstrated in this sample contribute to our understanding of how the developing brain instantiates processing of salient stimuli. In this context, individual specific response patterns could be a promising target for biomarkers of normative brain and cognitive development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49083,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 101644"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-08DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101643
Katie Mckinnon , Manuel Blesa Cábez , Melissa Thye , Selina Abel , Rebekah Smikle , Jean Skelton , Lorena Jiménez-Sánchez , Kadi Vaher , Gemma Sullivan , Amy Corrigan , Gayle Barclay , Charlotte Jardine , Iona Hamilton , Donna McIntyre , Yu Wei Chua , Ray Amir , Alan J. Quigley , Cheryl Battersby , Athanasios Tsanas , G. David Batty , James P. Boardman
Preterm birth and socioeconomic status (SES) are associated with brain development in early life, but the contribution of each over time is uncertain. We examined the effects of gestational age (GA) and SES on white matter microstructure in the neonatal period and at five years.
Participants included preterm and term children. Diffusion MRI was collected at term-equivalent age (n = 153 preterm, n = 90 term [127/243 female]) and from a subset at five years (n = 26 preterm, n = 32 term [22/58 female]). We assessed linear associations of GA, SES (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation [SIMD] and maternal education), and GA×SES interactions on fractional anisotropy (FA) using tract-based spatial statistics. We compared the proportion of voxels with significant associations between timepoints.
In preterm neonates, higher GA and higher maternal education, but not SIMD, were associated with higher FA (p corrected for family-wise error rate, pFWER < 0.05). GA-FA associations depended on maternal education and SIMD (β =|0.001–0.005|, p < 0.001). At five years, the strength and direction of GA-FA associations depended on SIMD (β =|0.013–0.028|, p < 0.001), but not maternal education. In term infants, lower SES was associated with higher FA at the neonatal timepoint only (pFWER < 0.05).
Preterm birth and SES both shape brain development at birth and continue to do so at five years. The SES measure most strongly associated with FA in preterm infants switches from a family-level (i.e. maternal education) to neighborhood-level (i.e. SIMD) measure between birth and five years, which suggests strategies to mitigate adverse effects of social inequalities on development may require adaptation as children grow.
{"title":"Preterm birth, socioeconomic status, and white matter development across childhood","authors":"Katie Mckinnon , Manuel Blesa Cábez , Melissa Thye , Selina Abel , Rebekah Smikle , Jean Skelton , Lorena Jiménez-Sánchez , Kadi Vaher , Gemma Sullivan , Amy Corrigan , Gayle Barclay , Charlotte Jardine , Iona Hamilton , Donna McIntyre , Yu Wei Chua , Ray Amir , Alan J. Quigley , Cheryl Battersby , Athanasios Tsanas , G. David Batty , James P. Boardman","doi":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101643","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101643","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Preterm birth and socioeconomic status (SES) are associated with brain development in early life, but the contribution of each over time is uncertain. We examined the effects of gestational age (GA) and SES on white matter microstructure in the neonatal period and at five years.</div><div>Participants included preterm and term children. Diffusion MRI was collected at term-equivalent age (n = 153 preterm, n = 90 term [127/243 female]) and from a subset at five years (n = 26 preterm, n = 32 term [22/58 female]). We assessed linear associations of GA, SES (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation [SIMD] and maternal education), and GA×SES interactions on fractional anisotropy (FA) using tract-based spatial statistics. We compared the proportion of voxels with significant associations between timepoints.</div><div>In preterm neonates, higher GA and higher maternal education, but not SIMD, were associated with higher FA (<em>p</em> corrected for family-wise error rate, <em>p</em><sub><em>FWER</em></sub> < 0.05). GA-FA associations depended on maternal education and SIMD (β =|0.001–0.005|, <em>p</em> < 0.001). At five years, the strength and direction of GA-FA associations depended on SIMD (β =|0.013–0.028|, <em>p</em> < 0.001), but not maternal education. In term infants, lower SES was associated with higher FA at the neonatal timepoint only (<em>p</em><sub><em>FWER</em></sub> < 0.05).</div><div>Preterm birth and SES both shape brain development at birth and continue to do so at five years. The SES measure most strongly associated with FA in preterm infants switches from a family-level (i.e. maternal education) to neighborhood-level (i.e. SIMD) measure between birth and five years, which suggests strategies to mitigate adverse effects of social inequalities on development may require adaptation as children grow.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49083,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 101643"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145529190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-05DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101641
Halie A. Olson , Trevor K.M. Day , Kelly J. Hiersche , Brittany L. Manning , Holly Bradley , Soujin Choi , Gavkhar Abdurokhmonova , Sarah A. McCormick , Amy L. Conrad , Dustin Scheinost , Kelly A. Vaughn
Language develops rapidly over the infant and toddler period and has been a key area of research within the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience. Understanding the neural basis of early language development may help us predict delays or disorders, recommend early interventions, and provide a deeper mechanistic understanding of how the brain supports language learning. While the ontogeny of many cognitive functions can be studied in animal models, language development can only be studied in human children. Thus, functional neuroimaging is critical for uncovering the neural basis of language in early development. The purpose of this review is to take stock of some examples of what we have learned so far, and to explore some of the biggest open questions for the next phase of fetal, infant, and toddler neuroimaging research of language development.
{"title":"Utilizing functional neuroimaging to study early language development","authors":"Halie A. Olson , Trevor K.M. Day , Kelly J. Hiersche , Brittany L. Manning , Holly Bradley , Soujin Choi , Gavkhar Abdurokhmonova , Sarah A. McCormick , Amy L. Conrad , Dustin Scheinost , Kelly A. Vaughn","doi":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101641","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101641","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Language develops rapidly over the infant and toddler period and has been a key area of research within the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience. Understanding the neural basis of early language development may help us predict delays or disorders, recommend early interventions, and provide a deeper mechanistic understanding of how the brain supports language learning. While the ontogeny of many cognitive functions can be studied in animal models, language development can only be studied in human children. Thus, functional neuroimaging is critical for uncovering the neural basis of language in early development. The purpose of this review is to take stock of some examples of what we have learned so far, and to explore some of the biggest open questions for the next phase of fetal, infant, and toddler neuroimaging research of language development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49083,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 101641"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145524558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101642
Alicja Brzozowska , Johanna Ruess , Regina Ori Stoeckl , Martina Arioli , Stefanie Hoehl
Research shows that the theta rhythm in infant electroencephalogram indexes learning processes and is a promising candidate for a marker of early cognitive development. However, a scarcity of studies investigating the stability of individual differences in theta activity in infancy, and a large variability in analytical approaches in existing research constrain the interpretations of research findings. In our large longitudinal study, we related three different indices of frontocentral theta activity (absolute and relative power, and an index of theta modulation by novel content) at 6 and 12 months to cognitive development level, language skills, and visual attention at 24 months. We found an increase in theta power over the course of novel information encoding at 6 and 12 months, replicating prior studies. Both absolute and relative theta power, but not theta modulation index, showed a large degree of stability in individual differences from 6 to 12 months. Finally, absolute theta power at 6 and 12 months was a positive predictor of the general cognitive level, but not of specific skills (selective attention, language) at 24 months. Of note, we observed similar effects for absolute power in the alpha frequency band, suggesting that the effects are not specific to the theta frequency band. Our results support the involvement of the theta rhythm in cognitive development in infancy and point to absolute power as the potentially most sensitive index of individual differences in theta activity.
{"title":"Theta activity as a marker of cognitive development in infancy: A longitudinal study across the first two years of life","authors":"Alicja Brzozowska , Johanna Ruess , Regina Ori Stoeckl , Martina Arioli , Stefanie Hoehl","doi":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101642","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101642","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Research shows that the theta rhythm in infant electroencephalogram indexes learning processes and is a promising candidate for a marker of early cognitive development. However, a scarcity of studies investigating the stability of individual differences in theta activity in infancy, and a large variability in analytical approaches in existing research constrain the interpretations of research findings. In our large longitudinal study, we related three different indices of frontocentral theta activity (absolute and relative power, and an index of theta modulation by novel content) at 6 and 12 months to cognitive development level, language skills, and visual attention at 24 months. We found an increase in theta power over the course of novel information encoding at 6 and 12 months, replicating prior studies. Both absolute and relative theta power, but not theta modulation index, showed a large degree of stability in individual differences from 6 to 12 months. Finally, absolute theta power at 6 and 12 months was a positive predictor of the general cognitive level, but not of specific skills (selective attention, language) at 24 months. Of note, we observed similar effects for absolute power in the alpha frequency band, suggesting that the effects are not specific to the theta frequency band. Our results support the involvement of the theta rhythm in cognitive development in infancy and point to absolute power as the potentially most sensitive index of individual differences in theta activity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49083,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 101642"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145472261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101640
Marta Korom , Marco McSweeney , Selin Zeytinoglu , Lucrezia Liuzzi , Daniel S. Pine , Nathan A. Fox , Katharina Kircanski
Reduced P3 amplitude during selective attention has been linked to depression in cross-sectional studies primarily with adults. Neurodevelopmental research has yet to examine relations between age-related changes in P3 amplitude, assessed across multiple time points, and the emergence of depressive and anxiety symptoms during adolescence, which may vary by sex. The present study addresses this gap by testing the effects of between- and within-person depressive symptoms, age, and sex on P3 amplitude during the Flanker task, across up to three age time points in a sample of adolescents (N = 190, ages ∼12, 15 and 18) at risk for developing internalizing symptoms. When depression was measured continuously without adjusting for age and sex, higher within-person depressive symptoms emerged as a significant predictor of reduced P3 amplitude. However, when age, sex, and depression (continuous or binary diagnostic status) were modeled together, only age and sex, but not depression, remained significant predictors of P3 amplitude. Specifically, P3 amplitude decreased with age, and males consistently exhibited higher P3 amplitudes than females, with stable age-related decrease across sexes. For anxiety, neither between- nor within-person symptoms were significantly associated with P3 amplitude, with or without age and sex included in the model. Similar to the findings for depression, however, age and sex were significant predictors of P3 amplitude. Thus, previous studies involving a single assessment of P3 amplitude and depression symptoms may be influenced by developmental factors.
{"title":"Age and sex, but not depression or anxiety, predict P3 amplitude during adolescence","authors":"Marta Korom , Marco McSweeney , Selin Zeytinoglu , Lucrezia Liuzzi , Daniel S. Pine , Nathan A. Fox , Katharina Kircanski","doi":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101640","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101640","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reduced P3 amplitude during selective attention has been linked to depression in cross-sectional studies primarily with adults. Neurodevelopmental research has yet to examine relations between age-related changes in P3 amplitude, assessed across multiple time points, and the emergence of depressive and anxiety symptoms during adolescence, which may vary by sex. The present study addresses this gap by testing the effects of between- and within-person depressive symptoms, age, and sex on P3 amplitude during the Flanker task, across up to three age time points in a sample of adolescents (N = 190, ages ∼12, 15 and 18) at risk for developing internalizing symptoms. When depression was measured continuously without adjusting for age and sex, higher within-person depressive symptoms emerged as a significant predictor of reduced P3 amplitude. However, when age, sex, and depression (continuous or binary diagnostic status) were modeled together, only age and sex, but not depression, remained significant predictors of P3 amplitude. Specifically, P3 amplitude decreased with age, and males consistently exhibited higher P3 amplitudes than females, with stable age-related decrease across sexes. For anxiety, neither between- nor within-person symptoms were significantly associated with P3 amplitude, with or without age and sex included in the model. Similar to the findings for depression, however, age and sex were significant predictors of P3 amplitude. Thus, previous studies involving a single assessment of P3 amplitude and depression symptoms may be influenced by developmental factors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49083,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 101640"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145473636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101639
Yixin Wang , Robbie Fraser , Laika Aguinaldo , Tam T. Nguyen-Louie , Fiona C. Baker , Susan F. Tapert , Kilian M. Pohl
Early cannabis initiation during youth is associated with elevated risk for harmful substance use, mental disorders, and cognitive impairments. To account for the complexity behind cannabis use initiation, we performed a data-driven analysis across 151 measurements spanning seven domains from the individual, microsystem, and exosystem level of influences: biobehavior, cognition, brain MRI, family, peer, neighborhood and legal factors. Data were from 450 cannabis-naïve youths from the National Consortium on Alcohol and NeuroDevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA) (baseline age: 12–21 years). Within an 8-year period, 292 transitioned to first use and 163 to weekly use of cannabis. Random Survival Forest predicted age of first onset (C-index = 0.68; 95 % CI: [0.65,0.71]) and weekly onset (C-index = 0.69; 95 % CI: [0.67–0.71]) with an accuracy significantly higher than chance (i.e., C-index = 0.5). Its prediction patterns consisted of factors from all three levels of influence. The predictive pattern of first onset comprised 13 factors across six domains including lower positive thinking during stress coping, which correlated with earlier use (R²=0.023, p = 0.0090). Three variables were shared with the predictive pattern of weekly use onset: cannabis outlet density, access to alcohol at home, and more positive social expectations of alcohol use forecasting earlier onset (Initial Use: R²=0.031, p = 0.0027; Weekly Use: R²=0.023, p = 0.0090). Weekly use onset was predicted by only four factors suggesting that while many influences contribute to a youth trying cannabis, only a few key factors appear to facilitate escalation to habitual use, some of which represent promising targets for prevention programs.
{"title":"Multi-level patterns predict cannabis use onset among youth","authors":"Yixin Wang , Robbie Fraser , Laika Aguinaldo , Tam T. Nguyen-Louie , Fiona C. Baker , Susan F. Tapert , Kilian M. Pohl","doi":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101639","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dcn.2025.101639","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Early cannabis initiation during youth is associated with elevated risk for harmful substance use, mental disorders, and cognitive impairments. To account for the complexity behind cannabis use initiation, we performed a data-driven analysis across 151 measurements spanning seven domains from the individual, microsystem, and exosystem level of influences: biobehavior, cognition, brain MRI, family, peer, neighborhood and legal factors. Data were from 450 cannabis-naïve youths from the National Consortium on Alcohol and NeuroDevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA) (baseline age: 12–21 years). Within an 8-year period, 292 transitioned to first use and 163 to weekly use of cannabis. Random Survival Forest predicted age of first onset (C-index = 0.68; 95 % CI: [0.65,0.71]) and weekly onset (C-index = 0.69; 95 % CI: [0.67–0.71]) with an accuracy significantly higher than chance (i.e., C-index = 0.5). Its prediction patterns consisted of factors from all three levels of influence. The predictive pattern of first onset comprised 13 factors across six domains including lower positive thinking during stress coping, which correlated with earlier use (R²=0.023, <em>p = 0.0090</em>). Three variables were shared with the predictive pattern of weekly use onset: cannabis outlet density, access to alcohol at home, and more positive social expectations of alcohol use forecasting earlier onset (Initial Use: R²=0.031, <em>p = 0.0027</em>; Weekly Use: R²=0.023, <em>p = 0.0090</em>). Weekly use onset was predicted by only four factors suggesting that while many influences contribute to a youth trying cannabis, only a few key factors appear to facilitate escalation to habitual use, some of which represent promising targets for prevention programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49083,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 101639"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145496731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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