Overview

• The longitudinal study analyzed white matter microstructure in 95 infants at three months using Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging and tracked emotional changes through nine months.
• Higher neurite orientation dispersion in the forceps minor was linked to greater increases in negative emotionality between three and nine months.
• More complex microstructure in the left cingulum bundle predicted larger gains in positive emotionality and improved self-soothing abilities.
• Results were independently replicated in an additional cohort of 44 infants and controlled for caregiver mental health and socioeconomic status.
• Published in Genomic Psychiatry, the findings suggest early neural markers could enable targeted interventions to support infant mental health.