• Prenatal brain connectivity an...

Treffer: Prenatal brain connectivity and postnatal language: how familial risk and prenatal speech exposure shape early language skills.

Title:
Prenatal brain connectivity and postnatal language: how familial risk and prenatal speech exposure shape early language skills.
Authors:
Cara C; CIMeC - Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.; Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany., Canini M; Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. canini.matteo@hsr.it., Oprandi C; Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy., Pecco N; Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy., Cavoretto PI; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy., Candiani M; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.; Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy., Falini A; Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.; Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy., Baldoli C; Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy., Tettamanti M; Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy. marcodante.tettamanti@unimib.it., Rosa PAD; Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. dellarosa.pasquale@hsr.it.
Source:
Scientific reports [Sci Rep] 2025 Sep 26; Vol. 15 (1), pp. 33281. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Sep 26.
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101563288 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2045-2322 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 20452322 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Sci Rep Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Original Publication: London : Nature Publishing Group, copyright 2011-
MeSH Terms:
Brain*/physiology , Brain*/diagnostic imaging , Language Development* , Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects*/physiopathology , Speech* , Language*, Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Risk Factors ; Adult ; Language Development Disorders
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Grant Information:
"Ricerca Finalizzata 2016" (grant number RF-2016-02364081; Principal Investigator: Dr. Pasquale Anthony Della Rosa) Ministero della Salute
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: Auditory and language networks; Early language acquisition; Familial risk; Foetal neurodevelopment; Functional connectivity; Language disorders
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20250926 Date Completed: 20250927 Latest Revision: 20250929
Update Code:
20250929
PubMed Central ID:
PMC12475424
DOI:
10.1038/s41598-025-17531-y
PMID:
41006557
Database:
MEDLINE

Weitere Informationen

The maturation of the auditory-language brain network begins before birth, driven by gene-environment interactions. We investigated the association between familial and environmental factors and the foetal development of this network, as well as the predictive value of this association for postnatal language outcomes. Using prenatal resting-state fMRI, we examined 25 foetuses to identify functional connectivity within the auditory-language network. Postnatal language was assessed longitudinally between 1 and 3 years using the Bayley-III scale. Familial risk for language disorders and prenatal speech exposure were quantified using a newly developed questionnaire. First, hierarchical clustering on foetal functional connectivity confirmed that an auditory-language network can be identified in the foetal brain. In this network, foetuses with higher speech exposure exhibited increased connectivity between left-hemisphere regions and decreased connectivity between homologous right-hemisphere regions. Higher familial risk was linked to reduced connectivity within the left language network. Regression analyses revealed that prenatal functional connectivity between insula, caudate nucleus, and rolandic operculum significantly predicted postnatal language. These findings underscore the critical role of genetic and environmental influences in functionally shaping the foetal auditory-language network, with lasting impacts on early language development. By integrating prenatal brain connectivity, familial risk, and speech exposure, this study provides new insights into prenatal language neurodevelopment, highlighting its importance for future language capabilities.
(© 2025. The Author(s).)

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.