Investigating the influence of maternal prenatal BMI and perinatal depressive symptoms on neonatal brain network dynamics
Higher maternal pre-pregnancy BMI is associated with reduced stability in a neonatal frontoparietal brain state, characterized by coordinated activity in frontal, parietal, and temporal regions. This state is one of six distinct dynamic connectivity patterns identified, reflecting core neonatal resting-state networks. The association was robust across multiple analytic models and clustering solutions. No significant effects were found for maternal depressive symptoms. These findings underscore the selective impact of maternal metabolic health on early brain organization, suggesting prenatal influences on the functional architecture of the newborn brain that may shape long-term neurodevelopmental trajectories.
Authors
- Ilkka Suuronen
- Ashmeet Jolly (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2348-7261)
- Alexandra Lautarescu
- Elmo P. Pulli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3871-8563)
- Silja Luotonen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5226-2286)
- Elena Vartiainen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3620-2506)
- Joana Cabral (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9662-4931)
- Wajiha Bano
- Dafnis Batalle
- Niloofar Hashempour
- Hasse Karlsson
- Isabella L. C. Mariani Wigley
- Harri Merisaari
- Jetro J. Tuulari
- Linnea Karlsson
- Morten L. Kringelbach
- A. David Edwards
Institutions
- University of Turku (FI)
- King's College London (GB)
- Aarhus University (DK)
- Turku University Hospital (FI)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Robotics Research (United States) (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Pediatric Research
- Published
- 2026-01-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-04726-2
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 29.71
Funders
- Suomen Lääketieteen Säätiö
- Alfred Kordelinin Säätiö
- Wellcome Trust
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- Department of Health and Social Care
- King's College London
- European Commission
- Juho Vainion Säätiö
- Signe ja Ane Gyllenbergin Säätiö
- Emil Aaltosen Säätiö
- Turun Yliopisto
- Orionin Tutkimussäätiö
- Varsinais-Suomen Sairaanhoitopiiri
- NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia