Development of the fetal brain structural connectivity during the second-to-third trimester based on diffusion MRI

Extensive cortico-cortical connections emerge in the fetal brain during the second-to-third trimester with the rapid development of white matter fiber pathways. However, the early establishment and prenatal development of the brain’s structural network are not yet understood. In this work, we built structural connectivity networks of the fetal brain using in-utero diffusion MRI data. Network analysis revealed the increasing overall efficiency of the fetal brain network. The strengthening of short-ranged cortico-cortical connections and the emerging hubs contributed to the reorganization of its sub-units. These findings provided valuable information on the early developmental patterns of brain cortico-cortical structural connectivity