A brain-age model for preterm infants based on functional connectivity

Objective: In this study, the development of EEG functional connectivity during early development has been investigated in order to provide a predictive age model for premature infants. Approach: The functional connectivity has been assessed via the coherency function (its imaginary part (ImCoh) and its mean squared magnitude (MSC)), the phase locking value () and the Hilbert-Schimdt dependence (HSD) in a dataset of 30 patients, partially described and employed in previous studies (Koolen et al 2016 Neuroscience 322 298-307; Lavanga et al 2017 Complexity 2017 1-13). Infants' post-menstrual age (PMA) ranges from 27 to 42 weeks. The topology of the EEG couplings has been investigated via graph-theory indices. Main results: Results show a sharp decrease in ImCoh indices in θ, (4-8) Hz and α, (8-16) Hz bands and MSC in β, (16-32) Hz band with maturation, while a more modest positive correlation with PMA is found for HSD, and MSC in , θ, α bands. The best performances for the PMA prediction were mean absolute error equal to 1.51 weeks and adjusted coefficient of determination equal to 0.8. Significance: The reported findings suggest a segregation of the cortex connectivity, which favours a diffused tasks architecture on the brain scalp. In summary, the results indicate that the neonates' brain development can be described via lagged-interaction network features.