Overview

• NYU researchers mapped brain development across the perinatal period using fMRI scans of 140 individuals.
• The study found a significant increase in functional connectivity in the brain immediately after birth.
• Distinct growth patterns were observed in different brain regions, particularly in subcortical and frontal networks.
• The research highlights the brain's transition from local to global connectivity, crucial for sensory and motor development.
• Findings may inform interventions for at-risk infants, considering factors like prematurity and prenatal adversity.