Electrophysiological Evidence for Interhemispheric Connectivity and Communication in Young Human Infants

Little is known empirically about connectivity and communication between the two hemispheres of the brain in the first year of life, and what theoretical opinion exists appears to be at variance with the meager extant anatomical evidence. To shed initial light on the question of interhemispheric connectivity and communication, this study investigated brain correlates of interhemispheric transmission of information in young human infants. We analyzed EEG data from 12 4-month-olds undergoing a face-related oddball ERP protocol. The activity in the contralateral hemisphere differed between odd-same and odd-difference trials, with the odd-different response being weaker than the response during odd-same trials. The infants' contralateral hemisphere recognized the odd familiar stimulus and discriminated the odd-different one. These findings demonstrate connectivity and communication between the two hemispheres of the brain in the first year of life and lead to a better understanding of the functional integrity of the developing human infant brain.

Automated summary

There is limited anatomical evidence on the connectivity and communication between the two hemispheres of the brain in the first year of life, leading to little empirical knowledge. To investigate interhemispheric transmission of information, EEG data from 12 4-month-old infants were analyzed during a face-related oddball ERP protocol. The activity in the contralateral hemisphere showed differences between odd-same and odd-difference trials, with a weaker response in odd-different trials. This indicates that infants' contralateral hemisphere can recognize and discriminate odd familiar and odd-different stimuli. These findings provide insight into the connectivity and communication between the two hemispheres of the brain in the first year of life and contribute to understanding the functional integrity of the developing infant brain.