Development of Infant Brain Functional Connectome Gradients during Age 0-6 Years

Studies have revealed a particular functional connectome gradient (FC-grad) pattern in the human brain, reflecting delicate organization of brain connectome. Interestingly, the pattern can be observed along childhood-adolescent, even in neonates. However, FC-grad changes from infancy to childhood remain unraveled, with significant disparities between neonates and school-aged children not explained. We explored the early development trajectories of the FC-grads between age 0-5 years. We found that the neonatal “prototypic” connectome gradients undergoes rapid changes in this period, especially the first 12 months, reflecting maturing functional integration. Our study filled the gap of FC-grad development in early infancy.