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<p>Functional brain networks support human cognition, yet how individualized network architecture emerges in early childhood remains poorly understood. Averaging across participants can obscure age-specific organization and person-to-person differences, particularly in slowly developing association cortices. We developed an age-appropriate functional reference that captured common structure across toddlers without averaging away individual variability, enabling estimation of each child’s networks from resting-state fMRI.&#xa0;Across cohorts of 8-60-month-old children, we found individualized network organization-including finer-scale subdivisions and emerging language lateralization&#xa0;well before age five. Network layouts showed longitudinal stability, with greater consistency in sensory than association regions. Within-network connectivity was stronger and explained age-related variance when networks were defined using individualized rather than group-consensus topography. Left-lateralization of language networks tracked age-normalized verbal ability, linking early functional architecture to emerging cognition. These findings show that behaviorally relevant brain networks arise far earlier than previously recognized, providing a foundation for studying typical development and early biomarkers.</p>

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Commonality and variability in functional networks in children under 5 years old

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月7日

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  • Jiaxin Cindy Tu,
  • Chenyan Lu,
  • Trevor K. M. Day,
  • Robert Hermosillo,
  • Lucille A. Moore,
  • Anxu Wang,
  • Xintian Wang,
  • Donna Dierker,
  • Aidan Latham,
  • Jeanette K. Kenley,
  • Damien A. Fair,
  • Jed T. Elison,
  • Chad M. Sylvester,
  • Barbara B. Warner,
  • Joan L. Luby,
  • Cynthia E. Rogers,
  • Deanna M. Barch,
  • Christopher D. Smyser,
  • Timothy O. Laumann,
  • Evan M. Gordon,
  • Adam T. Eggebrecht,
  • Muriah D. Wheelock

摘要

Functional brain networks support human cognition, yet how individualized network architecture emerges in early childhood remains poorly understood. Averaging across participants can obscure age-specific organization and person-to-person differences, particularly in slowly developing association cortices. We developed an age-appropriate functional reference that captured common structure across toddlers without averaging away individual variability, enabling estimation of each child’s networks from resting-state fMRI. Across cohorts of 8-60-month-old children, we found individualized network organization-including finer-scale subdivisions and emerging language lateralization well before age five. Network layouts showed longitudinal stability, with greater consistency in sensory than association regions. Within-network connectivity was stronger and explained age-related variance when networks were defined using individualized rather than group-consensus topography. Left-lateralization of language networks tracked age-normalized verbal ability, linking early functional architecture to emerging cognition. These findings show that behaviorally relevant brain networks arise far earlier than previously recognized, providing a foundation for studying typical development and early biomarkers.