Spontaneous mesoscale calcium dynamics reflect the development of the modular functional architecture of the mouse cerebral cortex

The mature cerebral cortex operates through the segregation and integration of specialized functions to generate complex cognitive states. In the mouse, the anatomical and functional correlates of this organization arise during the perinatal period and are critically shaped by neural activity. Understanding how early activity patterns distribute, interact, and generate large-scale cortical dynamics is essential to elucidate the proper development of the cortex. Here, we investigate spontaneous mesoscale cortical dynamics during the first two postnatal weeks by performing wide-field calcium imaging in GCaMP6s transgenic mice. Our results demonstrate a marked change in the spatiotemporal features of spontaneous cortical activity across fine stages of postnatal development. Already after birth, the cortical hemisphere presents a primordial macroscopic organization, which undergoes a steady refinement based on the parcellation of the cortex. As calcium activity transitions from large, widespread events to swift waves between the first and second postnatal week, significant topographic differences emerge across different cortical regions. Functional connectivity profiles of the cortex gradually segregate into main subnetworks and give rise to a highly modular network topology at the end of the second postnatal week. Overall, spontaneous mesoscale activity reflects the maturation of cortical networks, and reveals critical breakpoints in the development of the functional architecture of the cortex.