92 - Event-related Synchronization of Neuromagnetic Response in Relation to Cognition and Behavior in Children Born Very Preterm at 8 Years
Sunday, April 30, 2023
3:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET
Poster Number: 92 Publication Number: 92.336
Cecil MY. Chau, University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Nataliia Kozhemiako, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Vasily A. Vakorin, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Adonay S.. Nunes, Simón Fraser University, Boston, MA, United States; Urs Ribary, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Sam Doesburg, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Ruth E. Grunau, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Objective: To examine MEG oscillatory activity during a visual STM task in relation to EFs, verbal, visual-spatial processing and behavior, comparing children born at varying gestational ages. Design/Methods: N= 94 children (37 males, 57 females) were seen at 8 yrs: 31 born at extremely low GA (ELGA 24–28 wks), 24 very low GA (VLGA 29-32 wks), 39 full‐term (38-41 wks GA). MEG neuromagnetic dynamics was reconstructed for 116 brain regions according to the automated anatomical labeling (AAL) brain atlas. Asynchronous power in four frequency bands (theta 3.5-7.5 Hz; alpha 8 -12 Hz; beta 12-35 Hz; gamma 35-55 Hz) during 3 Phases (STM encoding, retention, retrieval) was calculated. WISC‐IV (Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory, Processing Speed) and Beery Visual‐Motor Integration (VMI). Computer EF tasks: Hearts & Flowers, Flanker. Parent questionnaires: Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) were collected. Constrained principal component analysis (CPCA) was used to examine the relationships between MEG asynchronous power and cognitive and behavioral outcomes, across GA groups (ELGA, VLGA, full-term). Results: Compared to full-term, ELGA showed decreases in power (lower ERS) of alpha rhythms in hippocampal, basal ganglia and cerebellar regions (p< .00001), which were associated with poorer EFs, e.g. Flanker (p=.019), Hearts & Flowers (p=.03) and Beery (p=.017). Also, ELGA demonstrated decreases in power of gamma and theta rhythms in cerebellar regions (p< .001), which were associated with poorer Beery (p=.048), lower EFs e.g. Flanker accuracy (p=.005). Finally, lower ERS of theta rhythms in the limbic system (p< .00001) in ELGA and VLGA was related to poorer working memory (p=.02) and behavior, e.g. BRIEF (p=.009), Internalizing (p=.03).
Conclusion(s): Children born very preterm expressed decreased event-related synchronization in hippocampus, cerebellar and limbic areas during a visual STM task, which was associated with poorer EF performance, visual-motor integration and behaviour.
