Developmental Factors That Predict Head Movement During Resting-State fMRI in Preschool-Age Children

Abstract

\n Background: Early childhood marks a period of dynamic neurocognitive development. The preschool age coincides with the onset of many childhood disorders and is a developmental period that is frequently studied to determine markers of neurodevelopmental disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often used to explore typical brain development and the neural bases of neurodevelopmental disorders. One advantage of MRI is that it provides comprehensive imaging data with high spatial resolution that is not possible with “child-friendly” techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). However, acquiring high-quality MRI data in young children is challenging. The enclosed space and loud sounds can trigger unease and cause excessive head movement. A better understanding of potential factors that predict successful MRI acquisition would increase chances of collecting useable data in children with and without neurodevelopmental disorders.Methods: We investigated whether age, sex, stuttering status, and childhood temperament as measured using the Child Behavioral Questionnaire, could predict movement extent during resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) in 76 children aged 3 to 7 years, including 42 children who stutter (CWS). Results: The CWS did not differ significantly from controls in temperament or head movement during scanning. Boys exhibited significantly more movement than girls, and younger age was a consistent predictor of increased movement, unless temperament was considered. Effortful control and negative affectivity significantly predicted movement especially in young boys. Conclusions: Considering temperament, age, and sex may help predict the success of acquiring useable rs-fMRI data in young children and inform future studies developing better desensitization techniques for pediatric MR neuroimaging.