Scans from 45 infants (23 female, 22 male) were used for analysis. The research team found that treatment with magnesium sulfate was associated with greater voxelwise functional connectivity in the temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and deep gray matter structures. Additionally, in those whose mothers had received the magnesium sulfate treatment, researchers found increased functional segregation in the brain, improving local connectivity and clustering of brain regions.

The infants born to mothers who underwent treatment with magnesium sulfate had improved connectivity in regions crucial for motor function, vision, hearing, and smell, all of which are functions that play important roles in human development and are used throughout life. The increased connectivity also suggests that these infant brains underwent faster maturation, which aligns well with previous evidence demonstrating that magnesium sulfate can reduce the risk of brain abnormalities and serve as a protective factor against brain injuries in infants after birth.

The researchers note that the sample size was relatively small, which could have reduced the power of the study to detect subtle differences. Furthermore, MRI scans were collected across different sites and scanners, potentially introducing variability into the data.

Functional connectivity is important at every age but plays a foundational role in early childhood development, facilitating the acquisition of new skills and the formation of relationships.^8,9 From a broader perspective, magnesium sulfate treatment delivered intravenously for pregnant individuals not expected to carry a child to term has the potential to improve the infant’s development starting in utero and continuing after birth. Early intervention could lead to positive developmental outcomes as the child grows.

 

Source: Luis Arias / Unsplash