The Kids Are Not Alright: The Impact of Premature Birth on Sensory Processing and Executive Function Circuitry

Abstract

Spontaneous brain activity has a stereotypical developmental trajectory, with high synchronization of activity patterns around birth, followed by subsequent decorrelation postnatally. The roles of synchronous activity have been well investigated in sensory systems, where studies show that early patterns of activity help organize the developing circuits. However, the trajectory of synchronous activity, as well as how its disruption impacts development in the prefrontal cortex is much less clear. Our preliminary studies found that premature birth in mice disrupts cortical synchrony at birth and impedes postnatal prefrontal synaptogenesis. Adult preterm mice have deficits in executive function and cortical inhibition, supporting that the trajectory of prefrontal intrinsic activity supports the development of cognitive and executive functions. Through innovative approaches in a novel animal model, our research demonstrates that premature birth disrupts the early developmental trajectory of the cortex, providing a mechanism for increased risk of neurodevelopmental conditions in preterm born children.