This study investigates the association between prenatal disadvantage and the pace of intrinsic brain network development from birth to three years. Using a pre-registered analysis of 261 participants, the researchers found that prenatal disadvantage, assessed through a latent factor incorporating socioeconomic indicators, was associated with accelerated increases in cortical network segregation. This accelerated development was observed at local and global scales and was particularly strong in sensorimotor regions. Lower segregation at two years of age correlated with improved language abilities.

Ursula A. Tooley, Aidan Latham, Jeanette K. Kenley, Dimitrios Alexopoulos, Tara A. Smyser, Ashley N. Nielsen, Lisa Gorham, Barbara B. Warner, Joshua S. Shimony, Jeffrey J. Neil, Joan L. Luby, Deanna M. Barch, Cynthia E. Rogers, Christopher D. Smyser