# Fetal functional connectivity: Examining the role of prenatal maternal depression symptoms using graph theory

## TL;DR

This study explores how prenatal maternal depression affects fetal brain connectivity, finding that it reduces efficiency in the right insular region.

## Contribution

The study is one of the few to use graph theory to examine fetal brain connectivity in relation to prenatal maternal depression.

## Key findings

- PMD symptoms are linked to reduced global efficiency in the fetal right insular region.
- Fetal age does not correlate with local or global efficiency in the insular region.
- PMD-related changes in fetal brain connectivity suggest a need for prenatal mental health care.

## Abstract

Altered fetal brain function is proposed as a mechanism underlying the relationship between prenatal maternal depression (PMD) and neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring. This study investigated the association between PMD symptoms and fetal brain functional connectivity (FC) using graph theory. A total of 123 pregnant women participated in the study, completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and underwent fetal MRI scans. Results revealed a significant relationship between elevated PMD symptoms and reduced global efficiency in the right insular region of the fetal brain. However, because fetal age was not associated with local or global efficiency in the insular brain region, we cannot determine if the PMD-related reduction in insula global efficiency is indicative of an accelerated or delayed developmental pattern. This study is one of the few to examine fetal brain connectivity in relation to prenatal maternal depression, providing valuable insights into early neurodevelopmental risks and potential targets for early intervention.

•Graph theory applied to analyze fetal brain FC in the context of PMD.•PMD linked to decreased global efficiency in fetal right insular region.•Fetal age was not related to right insular efficiency.•Prenatal PMD appears to have mixed effects on fetal brain network efficiency.•PMD-related alterations in fetal brain FC show need for prenatal mental health care.

Graph theory applied to analyze fetal brain FC in the context of PMD.

PMD linked to decreased global efficiency in fetal right insular region.

Fetal age was not related to right insular efficiency.

Prenatal PMD appears to have mixed effects on fetal brain network efficiency.

PMD-related alterations in fetal brain FC show need for prenatal mental health care.