The enigmatic fetal subplate compartment forms an early tangential cortical nexus and provides the framework for construction of cortical connectivity

A light in the darkness: Early phases of development and the emergence of cognition

During the prenatal period, the major brain development milestones are posed and calibrated through different mechanisms, among which endogenous activity, that prepares the "system" to face the external environment. However, the specific nature of the human nervous system, intended for brain plasticity that is varied by brain area and prolonged over time, requires much time for environmental experiences to shape the cerebral circuitries. Therefore, the neonate completely depends on the caregiver, and during the first months of postnatal life, it exhibits a transitory and limited repertoire of behaviors and skills that favors the mother in her new role. This transitory condition will gradually give way to more mature competencies, the milestones of which are posed within 2 years of age. This review takes a new perspective on early development and attempts to trace the remarkable changes from in-utero period to the second year of postnatal life, posing a bridge between the neurobiological substrate and behavioral development. We based our work on the "normal" development, pointing out the risks inherent in any development process.

Initial regional cytoarchitectonic differences in dorsal and orbitobasal human developing frontal cortex revealed by spatial transcriptomics

Early development of the human fetal cerebral cortex involves a set of precisely coordinated molecular processes that remains rather underexplored. Previous studies indicate that the laminar identity and the molecular specification of cortical neurons driven by genetic programming, as well as associated histogenetic events begin during early fetal development. Our recent study discovered unique regional cytoarchitectonic features in the developing human frontal lobe, including migratory waves of postmitotic neurons in the dorsal frontal cortex and the "double plate" feature in orbitobasal cortex (Kopić et al. in Cells 12:231, 2023). Notably, neurons of these two cytoarchitectonic features typically express deep projection neuron (DPN) markers (TBR1, TLE4, SOX5). This paper aims to conduct an in-depth investigation of these cytoarchitectonic features at the transcriptomic level, whilst preserving spatial information. Here, we employed NanoString GeoMx™ Digital Spatial Profiler (DSP) technology to examine gene expression differences in the transient cortical compartments of the dorsal and ventral regions of the developing frontal lobe, focusing specifically on 15 post-conceptional weeks (PCW), that is a critical period for subplate formation. We identified multiple differentially expressed genes between the transient cellular compartments of the dorsal and orbitobasal regions of the developing human frontal cortex. These new findings additionally confirm that regional patterning and specification of the prospective higher-order association prefrontal cortex emerges early in fetal development, contributing to the highly organized cortical architecture of the human brain.

High-Complexity Barcoded Rabies Virus for Scalable Circuit Mapping Using Single-Cell and Single-Nucleus Sequencing

Single cell genomics has revolutionized our understanding of neuronal cell types. However, scalable technologies for probing single-cell connectivity are lacking, and we are just beginning to understand how molecularly defined cell types are organized into functional circuits. Here, we describe a protocol to generate high-complexity barcoded rabies virus (RV) for scalable circuit mapping from tens of thousands of individual starter cells in parallel. In addition, we introduce a strategy for targeting RV-encoded barcode transcripts to the nucleus so that they can be read out using single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq). We apply this tool in organotypic slice cultures of the developing human cerebral cortex, which reveals the emergence of cell type-specific circuit motifs in midgestation. By leveraging the power and throughput of single cell genomics for mapping synaptic connectivity, we chart a path forward for scalable circuit mapping of molecularly-defined cell types in healthy and disease states.

Development of the basic architecture of neocortical circuitry in the human fetus as revealed by the coupling spatiotemporal pattern of synaptogenesis along with microstructure and macroscale in vivo MR imaging

In humans, a quantifiable number of cortical synapses appears early in fetal life. In this paper, we present a bridge across different scales of resolution and the distribution of synapses across the transient cytoarchitectonic compartments: marginal zone (MZ), cortical plate (CP), subplate (SP), and in vivo MR images. The tissue of somatosensory cortex (7-26 postconceptional weeks (PCW)) was prepared for electron microscopy, and classified synapses with a determined subpial depth were used for creating histograms matched to the histological sections immunoreacted for synaptic markers and aligned to in vivo MR images (1.5 T) of corresponding fetal ages (maternal indication). Two time periods and laminar patterns of synaptogenesis were identified: an early and midfetal two-compartmental distribution (MZ and SP) and a late fetal three-compartmental distribution (CP synaptogenesis). During both periods, a voluminous, synapse-rich SP was visualized on the in vivo MR. Another novel finding concerns the phase of secondary expansion of the SP (13 PCW), where a quantifiable number of synapses appears in the upper SP. This lamina shows a T2 intermediate signal intensity below the low signal CP. In conclusion, the early fetal appearance of synapses shows early differentiation of putative genetic mechanisms underlying the synthesis, transport and assembly of synaptic proteins. "Pioneering" synapses are likely to play a morphogenetic role in constructing of fundamental circuitry architecture due to interaction between neurons. They underlie spontaneous, evoked, and resting state activity prior to ex utero experience. Synapses can also mediate genetic and environmental triggers, adversely altering the development of cortical circuitry and leading to neurodevelopmental disorders.

The mother-child interface: A neurobiological metamorphosis

From the start of pregnancy, mother and child induce reciprocal neurobiological changes in the brain that will prove critical for neurodevelopment and survival of both. Molecular communication between mother and fetus is constantly active and persists even after the fetus starts to synthesize its hormones in late gestation. Intriguingly, some mother and fetus exchange cells remain in the other's brain and body with long-lasting effects and memories that do not follow the laws of classical genetics but involve complex epigenetic mechanisms. After childbirth, mother and child go through a transitional phase, a sort of limbo in which both will have a peculiar functioning profile, which is adaptive for contingencies but also renders them vulnerable. The interplay between these two "limbo" states allows for an easier transition to the subsequent phases of development. In this review, we will trace mother's and child's path from pregnancy to the months following birth and, in particular, unravel i) the key features of pregnancy and brain development and the reciprocal influences; ii) how a transitory pattern of functioning characterize mother and child, moving them toward more flexible and evolved forms; and iii) how mother and fetus act during childbirth to promote neuroprotection, pain reduction, and neurophysiological changes. Therefore, this review covers a wide range of topics, integrating neuroanatomical, neurological, biochemical, neurophysiological, and psychological studies in a meaningful way, trying to integrate them in a holistic view of the mother-child interface that is usually neglected.

Revisiting the functional monitoring of brain development in premature neonates. A new direction in clinical care and research

The first 1000 days of life are of paramount importance for neonatal development. Premature newborns are exposed early to the external environment, modifying the fetal exposome and leading to overexposure in some sensory domains and deprivation in others. The resulting neurodevelopmental effects may persist throughout the individual's lifetime. Several neonatal neuromonitoring techniques can be used to investigate neural mechanisms in early postnatal development. EEG is the most widely used, as it is easy to perform, even at the patient's bedside. It is not expensive and provides information with a high temporal resolution and relatively good spatial resolution when performed in high-density mode. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a technique for monitoring vascular network dynamics, can also be used at the patient's bedside. It is not expensive and has a good spatial resolution at the cortical surface. These two techniques can be combined for simultaneous monitoring of the neuronal and vascular networks in premature newborns, providing insight into neurodevelopment before term. However, the extent to which more general conclusions about fetal development can be drawn from findings for premature neonates remains unclear due to considerable differences in environmental and medical situations. Fetal MEG (fMEG, as an alternative to EEG for preterm infants) and fMRI (as an alternative to fNIRS for preterm infants) can also be used to investigate fetal neurodevelopment on a trimester-specific basis. These techniques should be used for validation purposes as they are the only tools available for evaluating neuronal dysfunction in the fetus at the time of the gene-environment interactions influencing transient neuronal progenitor populations in brain structures. But what do these techniques tell us about early neurodevelopment? We address this question here, from two points of view. We first discuss spontaneous neural activity and its electromagnetic and hemodynamic correlates. We then explore the effects of stimulating the immature developing brain with information from exogenous sources, reviewing the available evidence concerning the characteristics of electromagnetic and hemodynamic responses. Once the characteristics of the correlates of neural dynamics have been determined, it will be essential to evaluate their possible modulation in the context of disease and in at-risk populations. Evidence can be collected with various neuroimaging techniques targeting both spontaneous and exogenously driven neural activity. A multimodal approach combining the neuromonitoring of different functional compartments (neuronal and vascular) is required to improve our understanding of the normal functioning and dysfunction of the brain and to identify neurobiomarkers for predicting the neurodevelopmental outcome of premature neonate and fetus. Such an approach would provide a framework for exploring early neurodevelopment, paving the way for the development of tools for earlier diagnosis in these vulnerable populations, thereby facilitating preventive, rescue and reparative neurotherapeutic interventions.

Multi-omics identification of extracellular components of the fetal monkey and human neocortex

During development, precursor cells are continuously and intimately interacting with their extracellular environment, which guides their ability to generate functional tissues and organs. Much is known about the development of the neocortex in mammals. This information has largely been derived from histological analyses, heterochronic cell transplants, and genetic manipulations in mice, and to a lesser extent from transcriptomic and histological analyses in humans. However, these approaches have not led to a characterization of the extracellular composition of the developing neocortex in any species. Here, using a combination of single-cell transcriptomic analyses from published datasets, and our proteomics and immunohistofluorescence analyses, we provide a more comprehensive and unbiased picture of the early developing fetal neocortex in humans and non-human primates. Our findings provide a starting point for further hypothesis-driven studies on structural and signaling components in the developing cortex that had previously not been identified.

Neonatal amygdala volumes, procedural pain and the association with social-emotional development in children born very preterm

Very preterm birth (< 32 weeks' gestational age) is associated with later social and emotional impairments, which may result from enhanced vulnerability of the limbic system during this period of heightened vulnerability. Evidence suggests that early procedural pain may be a key moderator of early brain networks. In a prospective cohort study, neonates born very preterm (< 30 weeks' gestation) underwent MRI scanning at term-equivalent age (TEA) and clinical data were collected (mechanical ventilation, analgesics, sedatives). Procedural pain was operationalized as the number of skin breaking procedures. Amygdala volumes were automatically extracted. The Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire was used to assess social-emotional outcomes at 5 years of age (mean age 67.5 months). General linear models were employed to examine the association between neonatal amygdala volumes and social-emotional outcomes and the timing and amount of procedural pain exposure (early within the first weeks of life to TEA) as a moderator, adjusting for biological sex, gestational age, 5-year assessment age, days of mechanical ventilation and total cerebral volumes. A total of 42 preterm infants participated. Right amygdala volumes at TEA were associated with prosocial behaviour at age 5 (B = -0.010, p = 0.005). Procedural pain was found to moderate the relationship between right amygdala volumes in the neonatal period and conduct problems at 5 years, such that early skin breaking procedures experienced within the first few weeks of life strengthened the association between right amygdala volumes and conduct problems (B = 0.005, p = 0.047). Late skin breaking procedures, experienced near TEA, also strengthened the association between right amygdala volumes and conduct problems (B = 0.004, p = 0.048).

Perceptual Awareness in Human Infants: What is the Evidence?

Perceptual awareness in infants during the first year of life is understudied, despite the philosophical, scientific, and clinical importance of understanding how and when consciousness emerges during human brain development. Although parents are undoubtedly convinced that their infant is conscious, the lack of adequate experimental paradigms to address this question in preverbal infants has been a hindrance to research on this topic. However, recent behavioral and brain imaging studies have shown that infants are engaged in complex learning from an early age and that their brains are more structured than traditionally thought. I will present a rapid overview of these results, which might provide indirect evidence of early perceptual awareness and then describe how a more systematic approach to this question could stand within the framework of global workspace theory, which identifies specific signatures of conscious perception in adults. Relying on these brain signatures as a benchmark for conscious perception, we can deduce that it exists in the second half of the first year, whereas the evidence before the age of 5 months is less solid, mainly because of the paucity of studies. The question of conscious perception before term remains open, with the possibility of short periods of conscious perception, which would facilitate early learning. Advances in brain imaging and growing interest in this subject should enable us to gain a better understanding of this important issue in the years to come.

Alterations in Preterm Brain Development: Relation to Developmental Assessment and Prediction

Infants born extremely preterm are at risk for compromised cognitive and motor outcome. There are various possibilities as to why this occurs. The "two-hit" hypothesis consists of interrelated developmental disruptions and insults. Both specifically affect the transient subplate neuronal layer (SNL) and the early development of brain circuitry. The SNL, analogous to a switchboard, is critical in connecting cortical and lower brain centers and is highly susceptible to disruptions and insults, producing dysfunctional neural networks. Damage to the SNL provides the putative link between atypical early brain development and later cognitive and academic function that require complex neural circuitry. This, in turn, has major ramifications for developmental assessment and prediction. KEY POINTS: · Preterm brains are highly susceptible to disruptions and insults, this being the two-hit hypothesis.. · There is a variation in which low-grade stressors "sensitize" the infant increasing susceptibility to a second stressor-causing brain damage.. · Subplate neuronal layer damage compromises outcome by interfering with thalamocortical connections.. · Combining neuroimaging and developmental testing is the best way to gain insight into these processes.. · Atypical early brain development may not be evident until the network is mature and challenged..

Divergent growth of the transient brain compartments in fetuses with nonsyndromic isolated clefts involving the primary and secondary palate

Cleft lip/palate is a common orofacial malformation that often leads to speech/language difficulties as well as developmental delays in affected children, despite surgical repair. Our understanding of brain development in these children is limited. This study aimed to analyze prenatal brain development in fetuses with cleft lip/palate and controls. We examined in utero MRIs of 30 controls and 42 cleft lip/palate fetal cases and measured regional brain volumes. Cleft lip/palate was categorized into groups A (cleft lip or alveolus) and B (any combination of clefts involving the primary and secondary palates). Using a repeated-measures regression model with relative brain hemisphere volumes (%), and after adjusting for multiple comparisons, we did not identify significant differences in regional brain growth between group A and controls. Group B clefts had significantly slower weekly cerebellar growth compared with controls. We also observed divergent brain growth in transient brain structures (cortical plate, subplate, ganglionic eminence) within group B clefts, depending on severity (unilateral or bilateral) and defect location (hemisphere ipsilateral or contralateral to the defect). Further research is needed to explore the association between regional fetal brain growth and cleft lip/palate severity, with the potential to inform early neurodevelopmental biomarkers and personalized diagnostics.

Interdisciplinary fetal-neonatal neurology training applies neural exposome perspectives to neurology principles and practice

An interdisciplinary fetal-neonatal neurology (FNN) program over the first 1,000 days teaches perspectives of the neural exposome that are applicable across the life span. This curriculum strengthens neonatal neurocritical care, pediatric, and adult neurology training objectives. Teaching at maternal-pediatric hospital centers optimally merges reproductive, pregnancy, and pediatric approaches to healthcare. Phenotype-genotype expressions of health or disease pathways represent a dynamic neural exposome over developmental time. The science of uncertainty applied to FNN training re-enforces the importance of shared clinical decisions that minimize bias and reduce cognitive errors. Trainees select mentoring committee participants that will maximize their learning experiences. Standardized questions and oral presentations monitor educational progress. Master or doctoral defense preparation and competitive research funding can be goals for specific individuals. FNN principles applied to practice offer an understanding of gene-environment interactions that recognizes the effects of reproductive health on the maternal-placental-fetal triad, neonate, child, and adult. Pre-conception and prenatal adversities potentially diminish life-course brain health. Endogenous and exogenous toxic stressor interplay (TSI) alters the neural exposome through maladaptive developmental neuroplasticity. Developmental disorders and epilepsy are primarily expressed during the first 1,000 days. Communicable and noncommunicable illnesses continue to interact with the neural exposome to express diverse neurologic disorders across the lifespan, particularly during the critical/sensitive time periods of adolescence and reproductive senescence. Anomalous or destructive fetal neuropathologic lesions change clinical expressions across this developmental-aging continuum. An integrated understanding of reproductive, pregnancy, placental, neonatal, childhood, and adult exposome effects offers a life-course perspective of the neural exposome. Exosome research promises improved disease monitoring and drug delivery starting during pregnancy. Developmental origins of health and disease principles applied to FNN practice anticipate neurologic diagnoses with interventions that can benefit successive generations. Addressing health care disparities in the Global South and high-income country medical deserts require constructive dialogue among stakeholders to achieve medical equity. Population health policies require a brain capital strategy that reduces the global burden of neurologic diseases by applying FNN principles and practice. This integrative neurologic care approach will prolong survival with an improved quality of life for persons across the lifespan confronted with neurological disorders.

Thalamic connectivity topography in newborns with spina bifida: association with neurological functional level but not developmental outcome at 2 years

Spina bifida affects spinal cord and cerebral development, leading to motor and cognitive delay. We investigated whether there are associations between thalamocortical connectivity topography, neurological function, and developmental outcomes in open spina bifida. Diffusion tensor MRI was used to assess thalamocortical connectivity in 44 newborns with open spina bifida who underwent prenatal surgical repair. We quantified the volume of clusters formed based on the strongest probabilistic connectivity to the frontal, parietal, and temporal cortex. Developmental outcomes were assessed using the Bayley III Scales, while the functional level of the lesion was assessed by neurological examination at 2 years of age. Higher functional level was associated with smaller thalamo-parietal, while lower functional level was associated with smaller thalamo-temporal connectivity clusters (Bonferroni-corrected P < 0.05). Lower functional levels were associated with weaker thalamic temporal connectivity, particularly in the ventrolateral and ventral anterior nuclei. No associations were found between thalamocortical connectivity and developmental outcomes. Our findings suggest that altered thalamocortical circuitry development in open spina bifida may contribute to impaired lower extremity function, impacting motor function and independent ambulation. We hypothesize that the neurologic function might not merely be caused by the spinal cord lesion, but further impacted by the disruption of cerebral neuronal circuitry.

FEZ1 participates in human embryonic brain development by modulating neuronal progenitor subpopulation specification and migrations

Mutations in the human fasciculation and elongation protein zeta 1 (FEZ1) gene are found in schizophrenia and Jacobsen syndrome patients. Here, using human cerebral organoids (hCOs), we show that FEZ1 expression is turned on early during brain development and is detectable in both neuroprogenitor subtypes and immature neurons. FEZ1 deletion disrupts expression of neuronal and synaptic development genes. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we detected abnormal expansion of homeodomain-only protein homeobox (HOPX)- outer radial glia (oRG), concurrent with a reduction of HOPX+ oRG, in FEZ1-null hCOs. HOPX- oRGs show higher cell mobility as compared to HOPX+ oRGs. Ectopic localization of neuroprogenitors to the outer layer is seen in FEZ1-null hCOs. Anomalous encroachment of TBR2+ intermediate progenitors into CTIP2+ deep layer neurons further indicated abnormalities in cortical layer formation these hCOs. Collectively, our findings highlight the involvement of FEZ1 in early cortical brain development and how it contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Microglial contribution to the pathology of neurodevelopmental disorders in humans

Microglia are the brain's resident macrophages, which guide various developmental processes crucial for brain maturation, activity, and plasticity. Microglial progenitors enter the telencephalic wall by the 4th postconceptional week and colonise the fetal brain in a manner that spatiotemporally tracks key neurodevelopmental processes in humans. However, much of what we know about how microglia shape neurodevelopment comes from rodent studies. Multiple differences exist between human and rodent microglia warranting further focus on the human condition, particularly as microglia are emerging as critically involved in the pathological signature of various cognitive and neurodevelopmental disorders. In this article, we review the evidence supporting microglial involvement in basic neurodevelopmental processes by focusing on the human species. We next concur on the neuropathological evidence demonstrating whether and how microglia contribute to the aetiology of two neurodevelopmental disorders: autism spectrum conditions and schizophrenia. Next, we highlight how recent technologies have revolutionised our understanding of microglial biology with a focus on how these tools can help us elucidate at unprecedented resolution the links between microglia and neurodevelopmental disorders. We conclude by reviewing which current treatment approaches have shown most promise towards targeting microglia in neurodevelopmental disorders and suggest novel avenues for future consideration.

Celf4 controls mRNA translation underlying synaptic development in the prenatal mammalian neocortex

Abnormalities in neocortical and synaptic development are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing initial synapse formation in the prenatal neocortex remain poorly understood. Using polysome profiling coupled with snRNAseq on human cortical samples at various fetal phases, we identify human mRNAs, including those encoding synaptic proteins, with finely controlled translation in distinct cell populations of developing frontal neocortices. Examination of murine and human neocortex reveals that the RNA binding protein and translational regulator, CELF4, is expressed in compartments enriched in initial synaptogenesis: the marginal zone and the subplate. We also find that Celf4/CELF4-target mRNAs are encoded by risk genes for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes translating into synaptic proteins. Surprisingly, deleting Celf4 in the forebrain disrupts the balance of subplate synapses in a sex-specific fashion. This highlights the significance of RNA binding proteins and mRNA translation in evolutionarily advanced synaptic development, potentially contributing to sex differences.

Structure and function of neocortical layer 6b

Cortical layer 6b is considered by many to be a remnant of the subplate that forms during early stages of neocortical development, but its role in the adult is not well understood. Its neuronal complement has only recently become the subject of systematic studies, and its axonal projections and synaptic input structures have remained largely unexplored despite decades of research into neocortical function. In recent years, however, layer 6b (L6b) has attracted increasing attention and its functional role is beginning to be elucidated. In this review, I will attempt to provide an overview of what is currently known about the excitatory and inhibitory neurons in this layer, their pre- and postsynaptic connectivity, and their functional implications. Similarities and differences between different cortical areas will be highlighted. Finally, layer 6b neurons are highly responsive to several neuropeptides such as orexin/hypocretin, neurotensin and cholecystokinin, in some cases exclusively. They are also strongly controlled by neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine and norepinephrine. The interaction of these neuromodulators with L6b microcircuitry and its functional consequences will also be discussed.

Geodesic theory of long association fibers arrangement in the human fetal cortex

Association fibers connect different areas of the cerebral cortex over long distances and integrate information to achieve higher brain functions, particularly in humans. Prototyped association fibers are developed to the respective tangential direction throughout the cerebral hemispheres along the deepest border of the subplate during the fetal period. However, how guidance to remote areas is achieved is not known. Because the subplate is located below the cortical surface, the tangential direction of the fibers may be biased by the curved surface geometry due to Sylvian fissure and cortical poles. The fiber length can be minimized if the tracts follow the shortest paths (geodesics) of the curved surface. Here, we propose and examine a theory that geodesics guide the tangential direction of long association fibers by analyzing how geodesics are spatially distributed on the fetal human brains. We found that the geodesics were dense on the saddle-shaped surface of the perisylvian region and sparse on the dome-shaped cortical poles. The geodesics corresponded with the arrangement of five typical association fibers, supporting the theory. Thus, the geodesic theory provides directional guidance information for wiring remote areas and suggests that long association fibers emerge from minimizing their tangential length in fetal brains.

Associations between mother's depressive symptoms during pregnancy and newborn's brain functional connectivity

Depression during pregnancy is common and the prevalence further increased during the COVID pandemic. Recent findings have shown potential impact of antenatal depression on children's neurodevelopment and behavior, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Nor is it clear whether mild depressive symptoms among pregnant women would impact the developing brain. In this study, 40 healthy pregnant women had their depressive symptoms evaluated by the Beck Depression Inventory-II at ~12, ~24, and ~36 weeks of pregnancy, and their healthy full-term newborns underwent a brain MRI without sedation including resting-state fMRI for evaluation of functional connectivity development. The relationships between functional connectivities and maternal Beck Depression Inventory-II scores were evaluated by Spearman's rank partial correlation tests using appropriate multiple comparison correction with newborn's gender and gestational age at birth controlled. Significant negative correlations were identified between neonatal brain functional connectivity and mother's Beck Depression Inventory-II scores in the third trimester, but not in the first or second trimester. Higher depressive symptoms during the third trimester of pregnancy were associated with lower neonatal brain functional connectivity in the frontal lobe and between frontal/temporal lobe and occipital lobe, indicating a potential impact of maternal depressive symptoms on offspring brain development, even in the absence of clinical depression.

Maturational networks of human fetal brain activity reveal emerging connectivity patterns prior to ex-utero exposure

A key feature of the fetal period is the rapid emergence of organised patterns of spontaneous brain activity. However, characterising this process in utero using functional MRI is inherently challenging and requires analytical methods which can capture the constituent developmental transformations. Here, we introduce a novel analytical framework, termed "maturational networks" (matnets), that achieves this by modelling functional networks as an emerging property of the developing brain. Compared to standard network analysis methods that assume consistent patterns of connectivity across development, our method incorporates age-related changes in connectivity directly into network estimation. We test its performance in a large neonatal sample, finding that the matnets approach characterises adult-like features of functional network architecture with a greater specificity than a standard group-ICA approach; for example, our approach is able to identify a nearly complete default mode network. In the in-utero brain, matnets enables us to reveal the richness of emerging functional connections and the hierarchy of their maturational relationships with remarkable anatomical specificity. We show that the associative areas play a central role within prenatal functional architecture, therefore indicating that functional connections of high-level associative areas start emerging prior to exposure to the extra-utero environment.

Pyramidal neurons form active, transient, multilayered circuits perturbed by autism-associated mutations at the inception of neocortex

Cortical circuits are composed predominantly of pyramidal-to-pyramidal neuron connections, yet their assembly during embryonic development is not well understood. We show that mouse embryonic Rbp4-Cre cortical neurons, transcriptomically closest to layer 5 pyramidal neurons, display two phases of circuit assembly in vivo. At E14.5, they form a multi-layered circuit motif, composed of only embryonic near-projecting-type neurons. By E17.5, this transitions to a second motif involving all three embryonic types, analogous to the three adult layer 5 types. In vivo patch clamp recordings and two-photon calcium imaging of embryonic Rbp4-Cre neurons reveal active somas and neurites, tetrodotoxin-sensitive voltage-gated conductances, and functional glutamatergic synapses, from E14.5 onwards. Embryonic Rbp4-Cre neurons strongly express autism-associated genes and perturbing these genes interferes with the switch between the two motifs. Hence, pyramidal neurons form active, transient, multi-layered pyramidal-to-pyramidal circuits at the inception of neocortex, and studying these circuits could yield insights into the etiology of autism.

Fetal development of functional thalamocortical and cortico-cortical connectivity

Measuring and understanding functional fetal brain development in utero is critical for the study of the developmental foundations of our cognitive abilities, possible early detection of disorders, and their prevention. Thalamocortical connections are an intricate component of shaping the cortical layout, but so far, only ex-vivo studies provide evidence of how axons enter the sub-plate and cortex during this highly dynamic phase. Evidence for normal in-utero development of the functional thalamocortical connectome in humans is missing. Here, we modeled fetal functional thalamocortical connectome development using in-utero functional magnetic resonance imaging in fetuses observed from 19th to 40th weeks of gestation (GW). We observed a peak increase of thalamocortical functional connectivity strength between 29th and 31st GW, right before axons establish synapses in the cortex. The cortico-cortical connectivity increases in a similar time window, and exhibits significant functional laterality in temporal-superior, -medial, and -inferior areas. Homologous regions exhibit overall similar mirrored connectivity profiles, but this similarity decreases during gestation giving way to a more diverse cortical interconnectedness. Our results complement the understanding of structural development of the human connectome and may serve as the basis for the investigation of disease and deviations from a normal developmental trajectory of connectivity development.

Spatiotemporal tissue maturation of thalamocortical pathways in the human fetal brain

The development of connectivity between the thalamus and maturing cortex is a fundamental process in the second half of human gestation, establishing the neural circuits that are the basis for several important brain functions. In this study, we acquired high-resolution in utero diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from 140 fetuses as part of the Developing Human Connectome Project, to examine the emergence of thalamocortical white matter over the second to third trimester. We delineate developing thalamocortical pathways and parcellate the fetal thalamus according to its cortical connectivity using diffusion tractography. We then quantify microstructural tissue components along the tracts in fetal compartments that are critical substrates for white matter maturation, such as the subplate and intermediate zone. We identify patterns of change in the diffusion metrics that reflect critical neurobiological transitions occurring in the second to third trimester, such as the disassembly of radial glial scaffolding and the lamination of the cortical plate. These maturational trajectories of MR signal in transient fetal compartments provide a normative reference to complement histological knowledge, facilitating future studies to establish how developmental disruptions in these regions contribute to pathophysiology.

Dynamical systems model of development of the action differentiation in early infancy: a requisite of physical agency

Young infants are sensitive to whether their body movements cause subsequent events or not during the interaction with the environment. This ability has been revealed by empirical studies on the reinforcement of limb movements when a string is attached between an infant limb and a mobile toy suspended overhead. A previous study reproduced the experimental observation by modeling both the infant's limb and a mobile toy as a system of coupled oscillators. The authors then argued that emergence of agency could be explained by a phase transition in the dynamical system: from a weakly coupled state to a state where the both movements of the limb and the toy are highly coordinated. However, what remains unexplained is the following experimental observation: When the limb is connected to the mobile toy by a string, the infant increases the average velocity of the arm's movement. On the other hand, when the toy is controlled externally, the average arm's velocity is greatly reduced. Since young infants produce exuberant spontaneous movements even with no external stimuli, the inhibition of motor action to suppress the formation of spurious action-perception coupling should be also a crucial sign for the emergence of agency. Thus, we present a dynamical system model for the development of action differentiation, to move or not to move, in the mobile task. In addition to the pair of limb and mobile oscillators for providing positive feedback for reinforcement in the previous model, bifurcation dynamics are incorporated to enhance or inhibit self-movements in response to detecting contingencies between the limb and mobile movements. The results from computer simulations reproduce experimental observations on the developmental emergence of action differentiation between 2 and 3 months of age in the form of a bifurcation diagram. We infer that the emergence of physical agency entails young infants' ability not only to enhance a specific action-perception coupling, but also to decouple it and create a new mode of action-perception coupling based on the internal state dynamics with contingency detection between self-generated actions and environmental events.

Altered synaptic connectivity in an in vitro human model of STXBP1 encephalopathy

Early infantile developmental and epileptic encephalopathies are devastating conditions, generally of genetic origin, but the pathological mechanisms often remain obscure. A major obstacle in this field of research is the difficulty of studying cortical brain development in humans, at the relevant time period in utero. To address this, we established an in vitro assay to study the impact of gene variants on the developing human brain by using living organotypic cultures of the human subplate and neighbouring cortical regions, prepared from ethically sourced, 14-17 post-conception week brain tissue (www.hdbr.org). We were able to maintain cultures for several months, during which time the gross anatomical structures of the cortical plate, subplate and marginal zone persisted, while neurons continued to develop morphologically and form new synaptic networks. This preparation thus permits the study of genetic manipulations and their downstream effects on an intact developing human cortical network. We focused on STXBP1 haploinsufficiency, which is among the most common genetic causes of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. This was induced using shRNA interference, leading to impaired synaptic function and a reduced density of glutamatergic synapses. We thereby provide a critical proof-of-principle for how to study the impact of any gene of interest on the development of the human cortex.

Laminar dynamics of deep projection neurons and mode of subplate formation are hallmarks of histogenetic subdivisions of the human cingulate cortex before onset of arealization

The cingulate gyrus, as a prominent part of the human limbic lobe, is involved in the integration and regulation of complex emotional, executive, motivational, and cognitive functions, attributed to several functional regions along the anteroposterior axis. In contrast to increasing knowledge of cingulate function in the adult brain, our knowledge of cingulate development is based primarily on classical neuroembryological studies. We aimed to reveal the laminar and cellular development of the various cingulate regions during the critical period from 7.5 to 15 postconceptional weeks (PCW) before the formation of Brodmann type arealization, employing diverse molecular markers on serial histological sections of postmortem human fetal brains. The study was performed by analysis of: (1) deep projection neuron (DPN) markers laminar dynamics, (2) all transient laminar compartments, and (3) characteristic subplate (SP) formation-expansion phase. We found that DPN markers labeling an incipient cortical plate (CP) were the first sign of regional differentiation of the dorsal isocortical and ventral mesocortical belt. Remarkably, increased width of the fibrillar marginal zone (MZ) towards the limbus, in parallel with the narrowing of CP containing DPN, as well as the diminishment of subventricular zone (SVZ) were reliable landmarks of early mesocortical differentiation. Finally, the SP formation pattern was shown to be a crucial event in the isocortical cingulate portion, given that the mesocortical belt is characterized by an incomplete CP delamination and absence of SP expansion. In conclusion, laminar DPN markers dynamics, together with the SVZ size and mode of SP formation indicate regional belt-like cingulate cortex differentiation before the corpus callosum expansion and several months before Brodmann type arealization.

Impact of endocrine disruptors from mother's diet on immuno-hormonal orchestration of brain development and introduction of the virtual human twin tool

Diet has long been known to modify physiology during development and adulthood. However, due to a growing number of manufactured contaminants and additives over the last few decades, diet has increasingly become a source of exposure to chemicals that has been associated with adverse health risks. Sources of food contaminants include the environment, crops treated with agrochemicals, inappropriate storage (e.g., mycotoxins) and migration of xenobiotics from food packaging and food production equipment. Hence, consumers are exposed to a mixture of xenobiotics, some of which are endocrine disruptors (EDs). The complex interactions between immune function and brain development and their orchestration by steroid hormones are insufficiently understood in human populations, and little is known about the impact on immune-brain interactions by transplacental fetal exposure to EDs via maternal diet. To help to identify the key data gaps, this paper aims to present (a) how transplacental EDs modify immune system and brain development, and (b) how these mechanisms may correlate with diseases such as autism and disturbances of lateral brain development. Attention is given to disturbances of the subplate, a transient structure of crucial significance in brain development. Additionally, we describe cutting edge approaches to investigate the developmental neurotoxicity of EDs, such as the application of artificial intelligence and comprehensive modelling. In the future, highly complex investigations will be performed using virtual brain models constructed using sophisticated multi-physics/multi-scale modelling strategies based on patient and synthetic data, which will enable a greater understanding of healthy or disturbed brain development.

Abnormal development of transient fetal zones in mild isolated fetal ventriculomegaly

Mild isolated fetal ventriculomegaly (iFVM) is the most common abnormality of the fetal central nervous system. It is characterized by enlargement of one or both of the lateral ventricles (defined as ventricular width greater than 10 mm, but less than 12 mm). Despite its high prevalence, the pathophysiology of iFVM during fetal brain development and the neurobiological substrate beyond ventricular enlargement remain unexplored. In this work, we aimed to establish the relationships between the structural development of transient fetal brain zones/compartments and increased cerebrospinal fluid volume. For this purpose, we used in vivo structural T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of 89 fetuses (48 controls and 41 cases with iFVM). Our results indicate abnormal development of transient zones/compartments belonging to both hemispheres (i.e. on the side with and also on the contralateral side without a dilated ventricle) in fetuses with iFVM. Specifically, compared to controls, we observed enlargement of proliferative zones and overgrowth of the cortical plate in iFVM with associated reduction of volumes of central structures, subplate, and fetal white matter. These results indicate that enlarged lateral ventricles might be linked to the development of transient fetal zones and that global brain development should be taken into consideration when evaluating iFVM.

Axonal connections between S1 barrel, M1, and S2 cortex in the newborn mouse

The development of functionally interconnected networks between primary (S1), secondary somatosensory (S2), and motor (M1) cortical areas requires coherent neuronal activity via corticocortical projections. However, the anatomical substrate of functional connections between S1 and M1 or S2 during early development remains elusive. In the present study, we used ex vivo carbocyanine dye (DiI) tracing in paraformaldehyde-fixed newborn mouse brain to investigate axonal projections of neurons in different layers of S1 barrel field (S1Bf), M1, and S2 toward the subplate (SP), a hub layer for sensory information transfer in the immature cortex. In addition, we performed extracellular recordings in neocortical slices to unravel the functional connectivity between these areas. Our experiments demonstrate that already at P0 neurons from the cortical plate (CP), layer 5/6 (L5/6), and the SP of both M1 and S2 send projections through the SP of S1Bf. Reciprocally, neurons from CP to SP of S1Bf send projections through the SP of M1 and S2. Electrophysiological recordings with multi-electrode arrays in cortical slices revealed weak, but functional synaptic connections between SP and L5/6 within and between S1 and M1. An even lower functional connectivity was observed between S1 and S2. In summary, our findings demonstrate that functional connections between SP and upper cortical layers are not confined to the same cortical area, but corticocortical connection between adjacent cortical areas exist already at the day of birth. Hereby, SP can integrate early cortical activity of M1, S1, and S2 and shape the development of sensorimotor integration at an early stage.

Early Regional Patterning in the Human Prefrontal Cortex Revealed by Laminar Dynamics of Deep Projection Neuron Markers

Early regional patterning and laminar position of cortical projection neurons is determined by activation and deactivation of transcriptional factors (TFs) and RNA binding proteins (RBPs) that regulate spatiotemporal framework of neurogenetic processes (proliferation, migration, aggregation, postmigratory differentiation, molecular identity acquisition, axonal growth, dendritic development, and synaptogenesis) within transient cellular compartments. Deep-layer projection neurons (DPN), subplate (SPN), and Cajal-Retzius neurons (CRN) are early-born cells involved in the establishment of basic laminar and regional cortical architecture; nonetheless, laminar dynamics of their molecular transcriptional markers remain underexplored. Here we aimed to analyze laminar dynamics of DPN markers, i.e., transcription factors TBR1, CTIP2, TLE4, SOX5, and RBP CELF1 on histological serial sections of the human frontal cortex between 7.5-15 postconceptional weeks (PCW) in reference to transient proliferative, migratory, and postmigratory compartments. The subtle signs of regional patterning were seen during the late preplate phase in the pattern of sublaminar organization of TBR1+/Reelin+ CRN and TBR1+ pioneering SPN. During the cortical plate (CP)-formation phase, TBR1+ neurons became radially aligned, forming continuity from a well-developed subventricular zone to CP showing clear lateral to medial regional gradients. The most prominent regional patterning was seen during the subplate formation phase (around 13 PCW) when a unique feature of the orbitobasal frontal cortex displays a "double plate" pattern. In other portions of the frontal cortex (lateral, dorsal, medial) deep portion of CP becomes loose and composed of TBR1+, CTIP2+, TLE4+, and CELF1+ neurons of layer six and later-born SPN, which later become constituents of the expanded SP (around 15 PCW). Overall, TFs and RBPs mark characteristic regional laminar dynamics of DPN, SPN, and CRN subpopulations during remarkably early fetal phases of the highly ordered association cortex development.

When the Mind Comes to Live Inside the Body: The Ontogeny of the Perceptual Control Clock

In this editorial, we discuss the neurobiological processes underlying the early emergence of awareness that we term the "when" and "how" the mind comes to live inside the body. We describe an accumulative developmental process starting during embryonic life and continuing to fetal and postnatal development, of coupling of heart rate, body movements, and sleep states on the behavioral level with underlying mechanisms on the structural, functional, cellular, and molecular levels. A developmental perspective is proposed based on Perceptual Control Theory (PCT). This includes a developing sequence of modules starting from early sensing of neural intensities to early manifestation of human mindful capacities. We also address pharmacological treatments administered to preterm infants, which may interfere with this development, and highlight the need to consider this potential "side effect" of current pharmaceuticals when developing novel pharmacogenomic treatments.

Dendritic Spines: Synaptogenesis and Synaptic Pruning for the Developmental Organization of Brain Circuits

Synaptic overproduction and elimination is a regular developmental event in the mammalian brain. In the cerebral cortex, synaptic overproduction is almost exclusively correlated with glutamatergic synapses located on dendritic spines. Therefore, analysis of changes in spine density on different parts of the dendritic tree in identified classes of principal neurons could provide insight into developmental reorganization of specific microcircuits.The activity-dependent stabilization and selective elimination of the initially overproduced synapses is a major mechanism for generating diversity of neural connections beyond their genetic determination. The largest number of overproduced synapses was found in the monkey and human cerebral cortex. The highest (exceeding adult values by two- to threefold) and most protracted overproduction (up to third decade of life) was described for associative layer IIIC pyramidal neurons in the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.Therefore, the highest proportion and extraordinarily extended phase of synaptic spine overproduction is a hallmark of neural circuitry in human higher-order associative areas. This indicates that microcircuits processing the most complex human cognitive functions have the highest level of developmental plasticity. This finding is the backbone for understanding the effect of environmental impact on the development of the most complex, human-specific cognitive and emotional capacities, and on the late onset of human-specific neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia.

The fetal pain paradox

Controversy exists as to when conscious pain perception in the fetus may begin. According to the hypothesis of cortical necessity, thalamocortical connections, which do not form until after 24-28 weeks gestation, are necessary for conscious pain perception. However, anesthesiologists and neonatologists treat age-matched neonates as both conscious and pain-capable due to observable and measurable behavioral, hormonal, and physiologic indicators of pain. In preterm infants, these multimodal indicators of pain are uncontroversial, and their presence, despite occurring prior to functional thalamocortical connections, has guided the use of analgesics in neonatology and fetal surgery for decades. However, some medical groups state that below 24 weeks gestation, there is no pain capacity. Thus, a paradox exists in the disparate acknowledgment of pain capability in overlapping patient populations. Brain networks vary by age. During the first and second trimesters, the cortical subplate, a unique structure that is present only during fetal and early neonatal development, forms the first cortical network. In the third trimester, the cortical plate assumes this function. According to the subplate modulation hypothesis, a network of connections to the subplate and subcortical structures is sufficient to facilitate conscious pain perception in the fetus and the preterm neonate prior to 24 weeks gestation. Therefore, similar to other fetal and neonatal systems that have a transitional phase (i.e., circulatory system), there is now strong evidence for transitional developmental phases of fetal and neonatal pain circuitry.

Transient compartmentalization and accelerated volume growth coincide with the expected development of cortical afferents in the human neostriatum

The neostriatum plays a central role in cortico-subcortical circuitry underlying goal-directed behavior. The adult mammalian neostriatum shows chemical and cytoarchitectonic compartmentalization in line with the connectivity. However, it is poorly understood how and when fetal compartmentalization (AChE-rich islands, nonreactive matrix) switches to adult (AChE-poor striosomes, reactive matrix) and how this relates to the ingrowth of corticostriatal afferents. Here, we analyze neostriatal compartments on postmortem human brains from 9 postconceptional week (PCW) to 18 postnatal months (PM), using Nissl staining, histochemical techniques (AChE, PAS-Alcian), immunohistochemistry, stereology, and comparing data with volume-growth of in vivo and in vitro MRI. We find that compartmentalization (C) follows a two-compartment (2-C) pattern around 10PCW and is transformed into a midgestational labyrinth-like 3-C pattern (patches, AChE-nonreactive perimeters, matrix), peaking between 22 and 28PCW during accelerated volume-growth. Finally, compartmentalization resolves perinatally, by the decrease in transient "AChE-clumping," disappearance of AChE-nonreactive, ECM-rich perimeters, and an increase in matrix reactivity. The initial "mature" pattern appears around 9 PM. Therefore, transient, a 3-C pattern and accelerated neostriatal growth coincide with the expected timing of the nonhomogeneous distribution of corticostriatal afferents. The decrease in growth-related AChE activity and transfiguration of corticostriatal terminals are putative mechanisms underlying fetal compartments reorganization. Our findings serve as normative for studying neurodevelopmental disorders.

Evolution of cross-frequency coupling between endogenous oscillations over the temporal cortex in very premature neonates

Temporal theta activity in coalescence with slow-wave (TTA-SW) is one of the first neurobiomarkers of the neurodevelopment of perisylvian networks in the electroencephalography (EEG). Dynamic changes in the microstructure and activity within neural networks are reflected in the EEG. Slow oscillation slope can reflect synaptic strength, and cross-frequency coupling (CFC), associated with several putative functions in adults, can reflect neural communication. Here, we investigated the evolution of CFC, in terms of SW theta phase-amplitude coupling (PAC), during the course of very early development between 25 and 32 weeks of gestational age in 23 premature neonates. We used high-resolution EEG and dipole models as spatial filters to extract the source waveforms corresponding to TTA-SW. We also carried out nonlinear phase-dependent correlation measurements to examine whether the characteristics of the SW slopes are associated with TTA-SW coupling. We show that neurodevelopment leads to temporal accumulation of the SW theta PAC toward the trough of SW. Steepness of the negative going slope of SW determined the degree of this coupling. Systematic modulation of SW-TTA CFC during development is a signature of the complex development of local cortico-cortical perisylvian networks and distant thalamo-cortical neural circuits driving this nested activity over the perisylvian networks.

Neurodevelopmental patterns of early postnatal white matter maturation represent distinct underlying microstructure and histology

Cerebral white matter undergoes a rapid and complex maturation during the early postnatal period. Prior magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of early postnatal development have often been limited by small sample size, single-modality imaging, and univariate analytics. Here, we applied nonnegative matrix factorization, an unsupervised multivariate pattern analysis technique, to T2w/T1w signal ratio maps from the Developing Human Connectome Project (n = 342 newborns) revealing patterns of coordinated white matter maturation. These patterns showed divergent age-related maturational trajectories, which were replicated in another independent cohort (n = 239). Furthermore, we showed that T2w/T1w signal variations in these maturational patterns are explained by differential contributions of white matter microstructural indices derived from diffusion-weighted MRI. Finally, we demonstrated how white matter maturation patterns relate to distinct histological features by comparing our findings with postmortem late fetal/early postnatal brain tissue staining. Together, these results delineate concise and effective representation of early postnatal white matter reorganization.

Altered development of structural MRI connectome hubs at near-term age in very and moderately preterm infants

Preterm infants may exhibit altered developmental patterns of the brain structural network by endogenous and exogenous stimuli, which are quantifiable through hub and modular network topologies that develop in the third trimester. Although preterm brain networks can compensate for white matter microstructural abnormalities of core connections, less is known about how the network developmental characteristics of preterm infants differ from those of full-term infants. We identified 13 hubs and 4 modules and revealed subtle differences in edgewise connectivity and local network properties between 134 preterm and 76 full-term infants, identifying specific developmental patterns of the brain structural network in preterm infants. The modules of preterm infants showed an imbalanced composition. The edgewise connectivity in preterm infants showed significantly decreased long- and short-range connections and local network properties in the dorsal superior frontal gyrus. In contrast, the fusiform gyrus and several nonhub regions showed significantly increased wiring of short-range connections and local network properties. Our results suggested that decreased local network in the frontal lobe and excessive development in the occipital lobe may contribute to the understanding of brain developmental deviances in preterm infants.

Emerging signs of autism spectrum disorder in infancy: Putative neural substrate

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by altered development of the social brain with prominent atypical features in the fronto-temporo-parietal cortex and cerebellum. Early signs of ASD emerge between 6 and 12 months: reduced social communication, slightly less advanced motor development, and repetitive behaviour. The fronto-temporo-parietal cortex and cerebellum play a prominent role in the development of social communication, whereas fronto-parietal-cerebellar networks are involved in the planning of movements, that is, movement selection. Atypical sensory responsivity, a core feature of ASD, may result in impaired development of social communication and motor skills and/or selection of atypical repetitive behaviour. In the first postnatal year, the brain areas involved are characterized by gradual dissolution of temporary structures: the fronto-temporo-parietal cortical subplate and cerebellar external granular layer. It is hypothesized that altered dissolution of the transient structures opens the window for the expression of early signs of ASD arising in the impaired developing permanent networks. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: The early social and motor signs of autism spectrum disorder emerge between the ages of 6 and 12 months. Altered dissolution of transient brain structures in the fronto-temporo-parietal cortex and cerebellum may underlie the emergence of these early signs.

Human cerebral organoids - a new tool for clinical neurology research

The current understanding of neurological diseases is derived mostly from direct analysis of patients and from animal models of disease. However, most patient studies do not capture the earliest stages of disease development and offer limited opportunities for experimental intervention, so rarely yield complete mechanistic insights. The use of animal models relies on evolutionary conservation of pathways involved in disease and is limited by an inability to recreate human-specific processes. In vitro models that are derived from human pluripotent stem cells cultured in 3D have emerged as a new model system that could bridge the gap between patient studies and animal models. In this Review, we summarize how such organoid models can complement classical approaches to accelerate neurological research. We describe our current understanding of neurodevelopment and how this process differs between humans and other animals, making human-derived models of disease essential. We discuss different methodologies for producing organoids and how organoids can be and have been used to model neurological disorders, including microcephaly, Zika virus infection, Alzheimer disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, and neurodevelopmental diseases, such as Timothy syndrome, Angelman syndrome and tuberous sclerosis. We also discuss the current limitations of organoid models and outline how organoids can be used to revolutionize research into the human brain and neurological diseases.

The developing brain: Challenges and opportunities to promote school readiness in young children at risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in low- and middle-income countries

This paper discusses possibilities for early detection and early intervention in infants with or at increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The brain's high rate of developmental activity in the early years post-term challenges early detection. It also offers opportunities for early intervention and facilitation of school readiness. The paper proposes that in the first year post-term two early detection options are feasible for LMICs: (a) caregiver screening questionnaires that carry little costs but predict neurodevelopmental disorders only moderately well; (b) the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination and Standardized Infant NeuroDevelopmental Assessment (SINDA) which are easy tools that predict neurodisability well but require assessment by health professionals. The young brain's neuroplasticity offers great opportunities for early intervention. Ample evidence indicates that families play a critical role in early intervention of infants at increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. Other interventional key elements are responsive parenting and stimulation of infant development. The intervention's composition and delivery mode depend on the infant's risk profile. For instance, in infants with moderately increased risk (e.g., preterm infants) lay community health workers may provide major parts of intervention, whereas in children with neurodisability (e.g., cerebral palsy) health professionals play a larger role.

The spatiotemporal dynamics of microglia across the human lifespan

Microglia, the brain's resident macrophages, shape neural development and are key neuroimmune hubs in the pathological signatures of neurodevelopmental disorders. Despite the importance of microglia, their development has not been carefully examined in the human brain, and most of our knowledge derives from rodents. We aimed to address this gap in knowledge by establishing an extensive collection of 97 post-mortem tissues in order to enable quantitative, sex-matched, detailed analysis of microglia across the human lifespan. We identify the dynamics of these cells in the human telencephalon, describing waves in microglial density across gestation, infancy, and childhood, controlled by a balance of proliferation and apoptosis, which track key neurodevelopmental milestones. These profound changes in microglia are also observed in bulk RNA-seq and single-cell RNA-seq datasets. This study provides a detailed insight into the spatiotemporal dynamics of microglia across the human lifespan and serves as a foundation for elucidating how microglia contribute to shaping neurodevelopment in humans.

Early brain activity: Translations between bedside and laboratory

Neural activity is both a driver of brain development and a readout of developmental processes. Changes in neuronal activity are therefore both the cause and consequence of neurodevelopmental compromises. Here, we review the assessment of neuronal activities in both preclinical models and clinical situations. We focus on issues that require urgent translational research, the challenges and bottlenecks preventing translation of biomedical research into new clinical diagnostics or treatments, and possibilities to overcome these barriers. The key questions are (i) what can be measured in clinical settings versus animal experiments, (ii) how do measurements relate to particular stages of development, and (iii) how can we balance practical and ethical realities with methodological compromises in measurements and treatments.

Neuroscience meets nurture: challenges of prematurity and the critical role of family-centred and developmental care as a key part of the neuroprotection care bundle

Advances in neonatal-perinatal medicine have resulted in increased survival at lower gestations. Although the incidence of germinal matrix haemorrhage-intraventricular haemorrhage and cystic periventricular leucomalacia is reducing, a new phenotype of preterm brain injury has emerged consisting of a combination of destructive and dysmaturational effects. Consequently, severe neurological disability is reported at a lower rate than previously, but the overall morbidity associated with premature birth continues to present a large global burden and contributes significantly to increased financial costs to health systems and families. In this review, we examine the developmental milestones of fetal brain development and how preterm birth can disrupt this trajectory. We review common morbidities associated with premature birth today. Although drug-based and cell-based neuroprotective therapies for the preterm brain are under intense study, we outline basic, sustainable and effective non-medical, family-centred and developmental care strategies which have the potential to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes for this population and need to be considered part of the future neuroprotection care bundle.

Roots of the Malformations of Cortical Development in the Cell Biology of Neural Progenitor Cells

The cerebral cortex is a structure that underlies various brain functions, including cognition and language. Mammalian cerebral cortex starts developing during the embryonic period with the neural progenitor cells generating neurons. Newborn neurons migrate along progenitors’ radial processes from the site of their origin in the germinal zones to the cortical plate, where they mature and integrate in the forming circuitry. Cell biological features of neural progenitors, such as the location and timing of their mitoses, together with their characteristic morphologies, can directly or indirectly regulate the abundance and the identity of their neuronal progeny. Alterations in the complex and delicate process of cerebral cortex development can lead to malformations of cortical development (MCDs). They include various structural abnormalities that affect the size, thickness and/or folding pattern of the developing cortex. Their clinical manifestations can entail a neurodevelopmental disorder, such as epilepsy, developmental delay, intellectual disability, or autism spectrum disorder. The recent advancements of molecular and neuroimaging techniques, along with the development of appropriate in vitro and in vivo model systems, have enabled the assessment of the genetic and environmental causes of MCDs. Here we broadly review the cell biological characteristics of neural progenitor cells and focus on those features whose perturbations have been linked to MCDs.

Evolution of the Neocortex Through RNA-Binding Proteins and Post-transcriptional Regulation

The human neocortex is undoubtedly considered a supreme accomplishment in mammalian evolution. It features a prenatally established six-layered structure which remains plastic to the myriad of changes throughout an organism’s lifetime. A fundamental feature of neocortical evolution and development is the abundance and diversity of the progenitor cell population and their neuronal and glial progeny. These evolutionary upgrades are partially enabled due to the progenitors’ higher proliferative capacity, compartmentalization of proliferative regions, and specification of neuronal temporal identities. The driving force of these processes may be explained by temporal molecular patterning, by which progenitors have intrinsic capacity to change their competence as neocortical neurogenesis proceeds. Thus, neurogenesis can be conceptualized along two timescales of progenitors’ capacity to (1) self-renew or differentiate into basal progenitors (BPs) or neurons or (2) specify their fate into distinct neuronal and glial subtypes which participate in the formation of six-layers. Neocortical development then proceeds through sequential phases of proliferation, differentiation, neuronal migration, and maturation. Temporal molecular patterning, therefore, relies on the precise regulation of spatiotemporal gene expression. An extensive transcriptional regulatory network is accompanied by post-transcriptional regulation that is frequently mediated by the regulatory interplay between RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). RBPs exhibit important roles in every step of mRNA life cycle in any system, from splicing, polyadenylation, editing, transport, stability, localization, to translation (protein synthesis). Here, we underscore the importance of RBP functions at multiple time-restricted steps of early neurogenesis, starting from the cell fate transition of transcriptionally primed cortical progenitors. A particular emphasis will be placed on RBPs with mostly conserved but also divergent evolutionary functions in neural progenitors across different species. RBPs, when considered in the context of the fascinating process of neocortical development, deserve to be main protagonists in the story of the evolution and development of the neocortex.

Neurophysiology of the Developing Cerebral Cortex: What We Have Learned and What We Need to Know

This review article aims to give a brief summary on the novel technologies, the challenges, our current understanding, and the open questions in the field of the neurophysiology of the developing cerebral cortex in rodents. In the past, in vitro electrophysiological and calcium imaging studies on single neurons provided important insights into the function of cellular and subcellular mechanism during early postnatal development. In the past decade, neuronal activity in large cortical networks was recorded in pre- and neonatal rodents in vivo by the use of novel high-density multi-electrode arrays and genetically encoded calcium indicators. These studies demonstrated a surprisingly rich repertoire of spontaneous cortical and subcortical activity patterns, which are currently not completely understood in their functional roles in early development and their impact on cortical maturation. Technological progress in targeted genetic manipulations, optogenetics, and chemogenetics now allow the experimental manipulation of specific neuronal cell types to elucidate the function of early (transient) cortical circuits and their role in the generation of spontaneous and sensory evoked cortical activity patterns. Large-scale interactions between different cortical areas and subcortical regions, characterization of developmental shifts from synchronized to desynchronized activity patterns, identification of transient circuits and hub neurons, role of electrical activity in the control of glial cell differentiation and function are future key tasks to gain further insights into the neurophysiology of the developing cerebral cortex.

Fetal Pain in the First Trimester

Fetal pain perception has important implications for fetal surgery, as well as for abortion. Current neuroscientific evidence indicates the possibility of fetal pain perception during the first trimester (<14 weeks gestation). Evidence for this conclusion is based on the following findings: (1) the neural pathways for pain perception via the cortical subplate are present as early as 12 weeks gestation, and via the thalamus as early as 7–8 weeks gestation; (2) the cortex is not necessary for pain to be experienced; (3) consciousness is mediated by subcortical structures, such as the thalamus and brainstem, which begin to develop during the first trimester; (4) the neurochemicals in utero do not cause fetal unconsciousness; and (5) the use of fetal analgesia suppresses the hormonal, physiologic, and behavioral responses to pain, avoiding the potential for both short- and long-term sequelae. As the medical evidence has shifted in acknowledging fetal pain perception prior to viability, there has been a gradual change in the fetal pain debate, from disputing the existence of fetal pain to debating the significance of fetal pain. The presence of fetal pain creates tension in the practice of medicine with respect to beneficence and nonmaleficence.

Transient Subplate Sublayer Forms Unique Corridor for Differential Ingrowth of Associative Pulvinar and Primary Visual Projection in the Prospective Visual Cortical Areas of the Human Fetal Occipital Lobe

Cytoarchitectonical parcellation of the visual cortex into the striate and extrastriate cortex requires complex histogenetic events within a precise spatio-temporal frame to attain the specification of areal domains and associated thalamocortical connections during the fetal brain development. We analyzed a deep subplate cellular monolayer (subplate "corridor" cells) present during a restricted period of 13-15 postconceptional weeks, showing the 3D caudo-ventro-medial position in the human fetal occipital lobe, corresponding to the segregation point of pulvinocortical and geniculocortical fibers at the prospective area 17/18 border. Immunofluorescence stainings revealed subplate "corridor" cells as the specific class of the deepest subplate neurons (NeuN+, Tbr1+, Cplx3+) expressing axon guidance molecules (Sema-3A+, EphA6+), presumably for the attraction of pulvinocortical axons and the repulsion of geniculocortical axons growing at that time (SNAP25+, Syn+, FN+). Furthermore, quantitative analysis of the subplate "corridor" region of interest, considering cell number, immunofluorescence signal intensity per cell and per region, revealed significant differences to other regions across the tangential circumference of the developing cerebral wall. Thus, our study sheds new light on the deepest subplate sublayer, strategically aligned along the growing axon systems in the prospective visual system, suggesting the establishment of the area 17/18 border by differential thalamocortical input during the fetal brain development.