Association of maternal antenatal anxiety with amygdala-prefrontal cortex functional connectivity in children from a South African cohort

Motivation: Pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) experience high anxiety risks, with unknown effects on child brain and behaviour outcomes. Goal(s): This study examines the impact of antenatal maternal anxiety on child amygdala-prefrontal cortex functional connectivity using fMRI in a South African birth cohort. Approach: We compared functional connectivity outcomes between children exposed to maternal antenatal anxiety and those unexposed. Results: Findings show that at age 2-3 years, functional connectivity between the amygdala and both the medial- and lateral- prefrontal cortex is weaker in children exposed to anxiety, particularly in boys. Additionally, amygdala-anterior cingulate connectivity is correlated with externalising behaviour. Impact: Our findings suggest that antenatal maternal anxiety may impact child brain development. Understanding these effects could inform interventions to optimise neurodevelopment. Further research is needed to determine if these effects persist and relate to psychopathology in adolescents.