Brain Networks in Newborns and Infants with and Without Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy Study

Overview

Journal World J Psychiatry

Publisher Baishideng Publishing Group

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2024 Oct 30

PMID 39474384

Authors

Juan Tan

Qian-Mei Hou

Fen Zhang

Xu Duan

Yan-Long Zhang

Yu-Jun Lee

Hao Yan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Understanding the impact of early sensory deficits on brain development is essential for understanding developmental processes and developing potential interventions. While previous studies have looked into the impact of prenatal experiences on language development, there is a lack of research on how these experiences affect early language and brain function development in individuals with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).

Aim: To investigate SNHL effects on early brain development and connectivity in 4-month-olds healthy newborns and controls.

Methods: The research involved analyzing the functional brain networks of 65 infants, categorized into three groups: 28 healthy newborns, 22 4-month-old participants with SNHL, and 15 age-matched healthy participants. The resting-state functional connectivity was measured and compared between the groups using functional near-infrared spectroscopy and graph theory to assess the brain network properties.

Results: Significant differences were found in resting-state functional connectivity between participants with SNHL and age-matched controls, indicating a developmental lag in brain connectivity for those with SNHL. Surprisingly, SNHL participants showed better connectivity development compared to healthy newborns, with connectivity strengths of 0.13 ± 0.04 for SNHL, 0.16 ± 0.08 for controls, and 0.098 ± 0.04 for newborns. Graph theory analysis revealed enhanced global brain network properties for the SNHL group, suggesting higher communication efficiency at 4 months. No significant differences were noted in network properties between 4-month-old SNHL participants and neonates. A unique pattern of central hubs was observed in the SNHL group, with 2 hubs in the left hemisphere compared to 6 in controls.

Conclusion: 4-month-old infants with SNHL have a distinct brain network pattern with efficient long-distance information transmission but less effective local communication compared to age-matched controls.

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