Objective:To evaluate the changes in brain network function indicators in premature infants with language developmental disorders by resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).Methods:Premature infants admitted to Changzhou Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University from January 2021 to December 2023 were selected as the study subjects to evaluate language development. Language development assessment was conducted using the Gesell developmental scales during follow-up until 12 months of corrected gestational age. According to the evaluation results, the subjects were divided into language development disorders group (31 cases) and normal language development group (19 cases). rs-fMRI was performed on all premature infants with corrected gestational age of 40-42 weeks. The amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis were performed on MRI data. Regions of interest (ROI) were obtained as seed points based on previous literature, then functional connectivity (FC) was extracted between these ROIs for inter-group comparison. Independent sample t-test, non parametric test, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test were performed on the data using SPSS 23.0 software. Results:(1)There were statistically significant differences in birth weight, gestational age, moderate to severe respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, and maternal education level between the two groups of premature infants (all P<0.05).(2)The FC values of left temporal gyrus-left angular gyrus (1.220±0.155, 1.139±0.118), left insula-left trigone (0.520±0.199, 0.411±0.152), and left angular gyrus-left marginal gyrus (1.588±0.333, 1.330±0.437) in language development disorders group were higher than those in normal language development group ( t=-2.089, -2.186, -2.359, all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the FC values of ROI-ROI between the two groups in the right hemisphere of the brain (all P>0.05). The FC values of left superior temporal gyrus-right insula (0.588±0.257, 0.398±0.305) and left superior temporal gyrus-right marginal gyrus (1.550±0.393, 1.374±0.213) in language development disorders group were higher than those in the normal language development group ( t=-2.363, 2.057, both P<0.05). Conclusions:Functional connectivity between local brain regions in preterm infants with language development is significantly enhanced. The change of local brain network functional connectivity has certain predictive value for the language developmental outcome of preterm infants.

Objective:To evaluate the changes in brain network function indicators in premature infants with language developmental disorders by resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).Methods:Premature infants admitted to Changzhou Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University from January 2021 to December 2023 were selected as the study subjects to evaluate language development. Language development assessment was conducted using the Gesell developmental scales during follow-up until 12 months of corrected gestational age. According to the evaluation results, the subjects were divided into language development disorders group (31 cases) and normal language development group (19 cases). rs-fMRI was performed on all premature infants with corrected gestational age of 40-42 weeks. The amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis were performed on MRI data. Regions of interest (ROI) were obtained as seed points based on previous literature, then functional connectivity (FC) was extracted between these ROIs for inter-group comparison. Independent sample t-test, non parametric test, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test were performed on the data using SPSS 23.0 software. Results:(1)There were statistically significant differences in birth weight, gestational age, moderate to severe respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, and maternal education level between the two groups of premature infants (all P<0.05).(2)The FC values of left temporal gyrus-left angular gyrus (1.220±0.155, 1.139±0.118), left insula-left trigone (0.520±0.199, 0.411±0.152), and left angular gyrus-left marginal gyrus (1.588±0.333, 1.330±0.437) in language development disorders group were higher than those in normal language development group ( t=-2.089, -2.186, -2.359, all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the FC values of ROI-ROI between the two groups in the right hemisphere of the brain (all P>0.05). The FC values of left superior temporal gyrus-right insula (0.588±0.257, 0.398±0.305) and left superior temporal gyrus-right marginal gyrus (1.550±0.393, 1.374±0.213) in language development disorders group were higher than those in the normal language development group ( t=-2.363, 2.057, both P<0.05). Conclusions:Functional connectivity between local brain regions in preterm infants with language development is significantly enhanced. The change of local brain network functional connectivity has certain predictive value for the language developmental outcome of preterm infants.