The Brain Mechanism of Social Emotion and Communication in Infants Aged 0 to 6 Years

Brain structure (cortical thickness) change of subjects

Using T1 weighted and T2 weighted images to measure brain cortical thickness, analyzing the brain structural changes (differences of cortical thickness) over time.

Time frame: at baseline,and 6 months after baseline.

Brain structural connectivity change of subjects

Using diffusion-weighted images to measure the structural connectivity matrix (based on fiber tracking) of brain, analyzing the brain structural connectivity changes (differences in fibers number) over time.

Time frame: at baseline,and 6 months after baseline.

Brain functional connectivity change of subjects

Using resting state functional MRI (blood-oxygen-level dependent) to measure the functional connectivity matrix, analyzing the brain functional connectivity (differences in connectivity strength) changes over time.

Time frame: at baseline,and 6 months after baseline.

Cerebral blood flow change of subjects

Using arterial spin labeling (ASL) to measure relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) can produce quantitative cerebral perfusion images, analyzing the change (differences in rCBF) of brain perfusion over time.

Time frame: at baseline,and 6 months after baseline.

EEG examination change of subjects

EEG data were collected at each follow-up visit. Electroencephalogram (EEG), especially the event-related potential (ERP) technique, can non-invasively explore the cognitive processes of infant speech recognition, language comprehension, phonological awareness, recognition memory, and facial emotion recognition. The study will collect EEG data from children in resting states, including the power spectral density of different frequency bands (e.g., delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma), ERP waveform, amplitude, and latency during specific cognitive or sensory tasks, and EEG network connectivity in resting and task states. Through an experimental paradigm designed specifically for different age groups, the influential factors of language and social-emotional development in 0-3 years old infants were explored.

Time frame: at baseline, and 6 months after baseline.

Social and emotional behavior change of subjects (CITSEA score)

Using Chinese Version of Urban Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (CITSEA) to evaluate children's social and emotional behavior, including four broad domains: 1) externalizing problems; 2) internalizing problems; 3) dysregulation problems; 4) competencies. The problem behavior domain T score \>63 is assessed as suspicious positive, indicating possible social-emotional behavior problems; the competencies domain T score \<37 is assessed as suspicious positive, indicating there may be a delay in the development of social-emotional ability, analyzing the CITSEA score changes over time.

Time frame: at baseline,and 6 months after baseline.

Brain development change of subjects (GDS score)

Using Gesell Development Scale (GDS) to assess neurological integrity and functional maturity of children, including adaptive behavior, gross motor behavior, fine motor behavior, language behavior and personal social behavior. Mild intellectual disability: 55≤DQ≤75; moderate intellectual disability: 40≤DQ≤54; severe mental disability:25≤DQ≤39; extreme intellectual disability: DQ\<25, analyzing the GDS score changes over time.

Time frame: at baseline,and 6 months after baseline.

Developmental level prediction change of subjects (brain age, CITSEA and GDS score)

Using a connectome-based predictive model (CPM) to predict the developmental levels of subjects. In the modal training procedure, extracted multimodal MRI measures (primary outcomes 1 to 4) are input features, and the age, CITSEA and GDS score are ground truths.

Time frame: at baseline,and 6 months after baseline.

Child behavioral development change of subjects

Griffiths Development Scales - Chinese Edition (GDSC) : Griffith scale in Chinese children aged 0 \~ 8 speakers of standardized rating scale, with Chinese standard. The scale is divided into two parts, 0-2 years old and 0-8 years old. The 0-2 years old part is composed of 5 fields: The 0-2 years old part is composed of 5 fields, such as "A action ", "B individual-social ", "C language ", "D hand-eye coordination "and "E performance", and the 0-8 years old part adds "F practical reasoning field "on this basis. When the development quotient DQ\<70, development is delayed, and when DQ≥85, development is normal.

Time frame: at baseline,and 6 months after baseline.

Child mental health change of subjects

Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ:SE-2) : This scale is used to assess a child's social-emotional development. In general, a higher score means a child needs more attention or is in a higher risk state for social-emotional development.

Time frame: at baseline, and 6 months after baseline.

Intelligence quotient change of subjects

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) : Use the Chinese version (revised by Professor Zhang Houcan) to assess children's intelligence level. Choose 10 core tests and 4 auxiliary tests from WISC-IV. Four scores, namely the Verbal Comprehension index (VCI), Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI), Working memory Index (WMI), and processing speed Index (PSI), were calculated from the question bank, and the four composite scores were recombined to form the General Ability Index (GAI) and Cognitive Ability Index (CPI). The resulting total Intelligence quotient (FSIQ). A FSIQ score between 85 and 115 is considered normal intelligence; Between 70 and 84 are classified as borderline intelligence; Less than 70 is classified as low intelligence.

Time frame: at 3 years old, 4 years old, 5 years old, and 6 years old.