Biology subjects

Rogers, C. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Rogers, C. E..

10 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Functional Organization of the Neonatal Basal Ganglia and Thalamus

The basal ganglia and thalamus are key nodes in subcortico-cortical loops involved in sensory, motor, and cognitive function. In adults, posterior regions of the subcortex link to cortical sensorimotor networks and anterior regions link to association networks. Alterations in the size, strength, and selectivity of these subcortical regional network representations are implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders, many of which originate early in development. However, the organization of these network representations at birth remains incompletely understood, limiting our ability to devise normative and atypical developmental models of subcortico-cortical interactions. Using resting-state fMRI, we characterized the size, strength, and selectivity of cortical network representations in the basal ganglia and thalamus in a set of neonates (n=261) and compared results to children (age range 9-11 years, n=69) and adults (n=120). We found that the broad anterior-posterior organization of the subcortex is present at birth, yet representations of somatomotor networks were larger at birth compared to children and adults (p<0.001). The strength and selectivity of subcortico-cortical functional connectivity (FC) exhibited interactions between age group and network (all p<0.001), such that subcortical representations of sensorimotor networks exhibited stronger FC and higher selectivity in neonates, while subcortical representations of association networks exhibited stronger FC and higher selectivity in older cohorts. In parallel, data-driven clustering revealed areas with integration of multiple networks in the neonatal subcortex. These results suggest that subcortico-cortical FC evolves over development largely in a sensorimotor-association manner and provide a baseline for normative and disordered subcortical development. HIGHLIGHTSO_LIThe basic anterior-posterior layout of association to sensorimotor network representation in the basal ganglia and thalamus is present at term birth. C_LIO_LISensorimotor systems are overrepresented in neonates compared to children and adults. C_LIO_LISensorimotor representations exhibit greater functional connectivity strength and selectivity than association representations at birth, while association representations are stronger and more selective than sensorimotor representations in adults. C_LIO_LIThe neonatal subcortex exhibits substantial integration of multiple cortical networks. C_LI GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=150 SRC="FIGDIR/small/736181v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (48K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1d3bfa3org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@ca904dorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@c7c219org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@983020_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Commonality and Variability in Functional Networks In Young Children Under 5 Years Old

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 childs 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.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

An optogenetic toolkit for robust activation of FGF, BMP, and Nodal signaling in zebrafish

Cell signaling regulates a wide range of biological processes including development, homeostasis, and disease. Accessible technologies to precisely manipulate signaling have important applications in basic and translational research. Here, we present an optogenetic toolkit for signaling manipulation in zebrafish embryos. We introduce a zebrafish-optimized optogenetic FGF signaling activator and a single-transcript Nodal signaling activator, and assess them together with a previously established BMP signaling activator. We thoroughly characterize this suite of tools and demonstrate light-dependent spatiotemporal control of signaling in vivo. In response to [~]455 nm (blue) light, zebrafish receptor kinase domains fused to blue light-dimerizing LOV domains enable robust signaling activation with minimal inadvertent activity in the dark or at wavelengths over 495 nm. Each optogenetic tool initiates pathway-specific signaling and activates known target genes. Signaling is activated with rapid on/off kinetics, and activation strength can be tuned by adjusting light irradiance. Finally, we demonstrate spatially localized signaling activation in vivo. Together, our results establish this optogenetic toolkit as a potent experimental platform and provide guidelines for rapid, direct, and adjustable activation of FGF, BMP, and Nodal signaling in zebrafish embryos.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Early Life Neuroimaging: The Generalizability of Cortical Area Parcellations Across Development

The cerebral cortex consists of distinct areas that develop through intrinsic embryonic patterning and postnatal experiences. Accurate parcellation of these areas in neuroimaging studies improves statistical power and cross-study comparability. Given significant brain changes in volume, microstructure, and connectivity during early life, we hypothesized that cortical areas in 1- to 3-year-olds would differ markedly from neonates and increasingly resemble adult patterns as development progresses. Here, we parcellated the cerebral cortex into putative areas using local functional connectivity gradients in 92 toddlers at 2 years old. We demonstrate high reproducibility of these cortical regions across 1- to 3-year-olds in two independent datasets. The area boundaries in 1- to 3-year-olds were more similar to those in adults than those in neonates. While the age-specific group area parcellation better fit the underlying functional connectivity in individuals during the first 3 years, adult area parcellations might still have some utility in developmental studies, especially in children older than 6 years. Additionally, we provide connectivity-based community assignments of the parcels, showing fragmented anterior and posterior components based on the strongest connectivity, yet alignment with adult systems when weaker connectivity was included.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Associations between parenting and cognitive and language abilities at age 2 depend on prenatal exposure to disadvantage

ObjectiveTo investigate whether parenting and/or neonatal brain volumes mediate the associations between prenatal social disadvantage (PSD) and cognitive/language abilities; and whether these mechanisms vary by level of disadvantage. Study DesignPregnant women were recruited from obstetric clinics in St Louis, Missouri. PSD encompassed access to social (e.g., education) and material (e.g., income-to-needs, health insurance, area deprivation, and nutrition) resources during pregnancy. Neonates underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging. Mother-child dyads (N=202) returned at age 1 for parenting measures and at age 2 for cognition/language assessments (Bayley-III). Generalized additive and mediation models tested hypotheses. ResultsGreater PSD was nonlinearly associated with poorer cognitive/language scores. The relation between parenting and cognition/language was moderated by PSD, such that supportive and non-supportive parenting behaviors only related to cognition/language in children with low PSD. Further, parenting mediations differed by level of PSD, such that both supportive and non-supportive parenting mediated PSD-cognition/language associations in children with low PSD, but not in children with high PSD. PSD-associated reductions in neonatal subcortical grey matter ({beta}=.19, q=.03), white matter ({beta}=.23, q=.02), and total brain volume ({beta}=.18, q=.03) were associated with lower cognition, but they did not mediate PSD-cognition associations. ConclusionsParenting moderates and mediates associations between PSD and early cognitive and language development, but only in families with lower levels of social disadvantage. These findings, while correlational, suggest that there may be a critical threshold of disadvantage, below which mediating or moderating factors become less effective, highlighting the importance of reducing disadvantage as primary prevention.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Functional parcellation of the neonatal brain

The cerebral cortex is organized into distinct but interconnected cortical areas, which can be defined by abrupt differences in patterns of resting state functional connectivity (FC) across the cortical surface. Such parcellations of the cortex have been derived in adults and older infants, but there is no widely used surface parcellation available for the neonatal brain. Here, we first demonstrate that adult- and older infant-derived parcels are a poor fit with neonatal data, emphasizing the need for neonatal-specific parcels. We next derive a set of 283 cortical surface parcels from a sample of n=261 neonates. These parcels have highly homogenous FC patterns and are validated using three external neonatal datasets. The Infomap algorithm is used to assign functional network identities to each parcel, and derived networks are consistent with prior work in neonates. The proposed parcellation may represent neonatal cortical areas and provides a powerful tool for neonatal neuroimaging studies. HIGHLIGHTSO_LINeonatal cortical surface parcels derived based on abrupt changes in functional connectivity (FC) were highly homogenous and were validated in external neonatal datasets. C_LIO_LIBorders between cortical parcels were smoother (less abrupt) in group-average neonatal data compared to adults, likely due to increased heterogeneity in boundary location across individual neonates. C_LIO_LIParcels derived from adults and older infants show poor fit with neonatal resting-state FC data, underscoring the need for a neonatal-specific parcellation. C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Prenatal environment is associated with the pace of cortical network development over the first three years of life

Environmental influences on brain structure and function during early development have been well-characterized. In pre-registered analyses, we test the theory that socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with differences in trajectories of intrinsic brain network development from birth to three years (n = 261). Prenatal SES is associated with developmental increases in cortical network segregation, with neonates and toddlers from lower-SES backgrounds showing a steeper increase in cortical network segregation with age, consistent with accelerated network development. Associations between SES and cortical network segregation occur at the local scale and conform to a sensorimotor-association hierarchy of cortical organization. SES-associated differences in cortical network segregation are associated with language abilities at two years, such that lower segregation is associated with improved language abilities. These results yield key insight into the timing and directionality of associations between the early environment and trajectories of cortical development.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

A mind-body interface alternates with effector-specific regions in motor cortex

Primary motor cortex (M1) has been thought to form a continuous somatotopic homunculus extending down precentral gyrus from foot to face representations1,2. The motor homunculus has remained a textbook pillar of functional neuroanatomy, despite evidence for concentric functional zones3 and maps of complex actions4. Using our highest precision functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data and methods, we discovered that the classic homunculus is interrupted by regions with sharpy distinct connectivity, structure, and function, alternating with effector-specific (foot, hand, mouth) areas. These inter-effector regions exhibit decreased cortical thickness and strong functional connectivity to each other, and to prefrontal, insular, and subcortical regions of the Cingulo-opercular network (CON), critical for executive action5 and physiological control6, arousal7, and processing of errors8 and pain9. This interdigitation of action control-linked and motor effector regions was independently verified in the three largest fMRI datasets. Macaque and pediatric (newborn, infant, child) precision fMRI revealed potential cross-species analogues and developmental precursors of the inter-effector system. An extensive battery of motor and action fMRI tasks documented concentric somatotopies for each effector, separated by the CON-linked inter-effector regions. The inter-effector regions lacked movement specificity and co-activated during action planning (coordination of hands and feet), and axial body movement (e.g., abdomen, eyebrows). These results, together with prior work demonstrating stimulation-evoked complex actions4 and connectivity to internal organs (e.g., adrenal medulla)10, suggest that M1 is punctuated by an integrative system for implementing whole-body action plans. Thus, two parallel systems intertwine in motor cortex to form an integrate-isolate pattern: effector-specific regions (foot, hand, mouth) for isolating fine motor control, and a mind-body interface (MBI) for the integrative whole-organism coordination of goals, physiology, and body movement.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Neurodevelopmental Patterns of Early Postnatal White Matter Maturation Represent Distinct Underlying Microstructure and Histology

During the early postnatal period, cerebral white matter undergoes rapid maturation through a complex series of interrelated cellular and histogenetic processes. Accurately quantifying these processes is important for improving understanding of early brain development, developmental abnormalities related to prematurity, and neurodevelopmental diseases. Past efforts have used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to track these developmental processes in vivo. However, most previous studies have relied on single imaging modality data and have often been limited by small samples and analytics that do not evaluate complex multivariate imaging patterns. Here, we applied an advanced unsupervised multivariate pattern analysis technique, non-negative matrix factorization (NMF), to T2w/T1w signal ratio maps from a large cohort of newborns (Developing Human Connectome Project [dHCP], n=342), revealing patterns of synchronous white matter maturation. These patterns showed divergent age-related maturational trajectories and differential susceptibility to premature birth, which were replicated in an independent large sample of newborns (Early Life Adversity, Biological Embedding, and Risk for Developmental Precursors of Mental Disorders [eLABE], n=239). Furthermore, we showed that T2w/T1w signal variations in white matter maturational patterns are explained by differential contributions of white matter microstructure indices (i.e., free water content and neurite density index) derived from neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) modeling of diffusion-weighted MRI. Finally, we demonstrated how white matter maturation patterns relate to distinct histological features by comparing our findings with postmortem late fetal/early postnatal brain tissue staining. Together, these results delineate a novel MRI representation of white matter microstructural and histological reorganization during the early postnatal development.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2017

Dynamic patterns of cortical expansion during folding of the preterm human brain

During the third trimester of human brain development, the cerebral cortex undergoes dramatic surface expansion and folding. Physical models suggest that relatively rapid growth of the cortical gray matter helps drive this folding, and structural data suggests that growth may vary in both space (by region on the cortical surface) and time. In this study, we propose a new method to estimate local growth from sequential cortical reconstructions. Using anatomically-constrained Multimodal Surface Matching (aMSM), we obtain accurate, physically-guided point correspondence between younger and older cortical reconstructions of the same individual. From each pair of surfaces, we calculate continuous, smooth maps of cortical expansion with unprecedented precision. By considering 30 preterm infants scanned 2-4 times during the period of rapid cortical expansion (28 to 38 weeks postmenstrual age), we observe significant regional differences in growth across the cortical surface that are consistent with patterns of active folding. Furthermore, these growth patterns shift over the course of development, with non-injured subjects following a highly consistent trajectory. This information provides a detailed picture of dynamic changes in cortical growth, connecting what is known about patterns of development at the microscopic (cellular) and macroscopic (folding) scales. Since our method provides specific growth maps for individual brains, we are also able to detect alterations due to injury. This fully-automated surface analysis, based on tools freely available to the brain mapping community, may also serve as a useful approach for future studies of abnormal growth due to genetic disorders, injury, or other environmental variables.\n\nSignificance StatementThe human brain exhibits complex folding patterns that emerge during the third trimester of fetal development. Minor folds are quasi-randomly shaped and distributed. Major folds, in contrast, are more conserved and form important landmarks. Disruption of cortical folding is associated with devastating disorders of cognition and emotion. Despite decades of study, the processes that produce normal and abnormal folding remain unresolved, although the relatively rapid tangential expansion of the cortex has emerged as a driving factor. Accurate and precise measurement of cortical growth patterns during the period of folding has remained elusive. Here, we illuminate the spatiotemporal dynamics of cortical expansion by analyzing MRI-derived surfaces of preterm infant brains, using a novel strain energy minimization approach.

neuroscience↗