Development of Functional Connectome Gradients during Childhood and Adolescence

Connectome mapping studies have documented a principal primary-to-transmodal gradient in the adult brain network, capturing a functional spectrum which ranges from perception and action to abstract cognition. However, how this gradient pattern develops and whether its development is linked to cognitive growth, topological reorganization, and gene expression profiles remain largely unknown. Using longitudinal resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 305 children (ages 6-14), we describe substantial changes in the primary-to-transmodal gradient between childhood and adolescence, including emergence as the principal gradient, expansion of global topography, and focal tuning in primary and default-mode regions. These gradient changes are mediated by developmental changes in network integration and segregation, and are associated with abstract processing functions such as working memory and expression levels of calcium ion regulated exocytosis, synaptic transmission, and axon and synapse part related genes. Our findings have implications for understanding connectome maturation principles in normal development and developmental disorders. Teaser Our study reported the maturation of the core connectome gradient and its association with cognitions and genes expression.