Developmental differences in canonical cortical networks: insights from microstructure-informed tractography

Abstract In response to a growing interest in refining brain connectivity assessments, this study focuses on integrating white matter fibre-specific microstructural properties into structural connectomes. Spanning ages 8-19 years in a developmental sample, it explores age-related patterns of microstructure-informed network properties at both local and global scales. First the diffusion-weighted signal fraction associated with each tractography-reconstructed streamline was constructed. Subsequently, the Convex Optimization Modelling for Microstructure-Informed Tractography (COMMIT) approach was employed to generate microstructure-informed connectomes from diffusion MRI data. To complete the investigation, network characteristics within eight functionally defined networks (visual, somatomotor, dorsal attention, ventral attention, limbic, frontoparietal, default mode, and subcortical networks) were evaluated. The findings underscore a consistent increase in global efficiency across child and adolescent development within the visual, somatomotor, and default mode networks (p<.005). Additionally, mean strength exhibits an upward trend in the somatomotor and visual networks (p<.001). Notably, nodes within the dorsal and ventral visual pathways manifest substantial age-dependent changes in local efficiency, aligning with existing evidence of extended maturation in these pathways. The outcomes strongly support the notion of a prolonged developmental trajectory for visual association cortices. This study contributes valuable insights into the nuanced dynamics of microstructure-informed brain connectivity throughout different developmental stages.