# Effects of prenatal cocaine on early brain functional connectivity and behavior

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2020 · $682,143

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) is consistently related to impaired attention and behavioral and physiological
self-regulation in infants and young children, suggesting persistent negative impact on skills essential for
optimal learning and social competence. Gestational exposure to cocaine occurs during a time of
extraordinary brain growth and organization, which is immediately followed by massive expansion and
refinement of brain structure, functional connections and network organization in the first year of life. However,
little is known about the effects of PCE on early human brain development that may contribute to reported
deficits in cognition and neurobehavior. The objectives of this proposal are to quantify the effects of PCE on
the developmental trajectory of infant brain functional connectivity in postnatal months 0-12, to determine
associations with neurobehavioral and cognitive outcomes, and to examine how specific maternal caregiving
characteristics (Sensitivity, Harshness) moderate these effects. Our central hypothesis is that fetal brain
development and organization are altered by PCE; deficits in developing functional connections mediate the
negative effects of PCE on simultaneously developing neurobehavior and early cognition; postnatal maternal
behaviors and environment interact with PCE to influence growth trajectories of developing connections and
networks that subserve emerging abilities. This hypothesis is based on the Co-PIs'strong preliminary data
describing normative development of functional networks from birth to 2 years (Gao), disruptions in functional
connectivity due to prenatal cocaine and other drugs in neonates (Grewen, Gao), and on Co-investigator
Eiden's longitudinal studies of the behavioral effects of PCE and its moderation by maternal behaviors in
infants, toddlers and children. We propose to study infant resting state functional connectivity and behavioral
development at 2 weeks, 6 months and 12 months in 3 groups of infants: 120 with PCE with or without
exposure to other drugs (nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, and/or opiates), 100 exposed to the same other drugs
but without cocaine (OD), 100 drug-free (CTL). We will measure Maternal Sensitivity (primary), Maternal
Harshness (secondary) and an index of cumulative environmental risk to determine postnatal moderation of
PCE effects on developing connectivity. The rationale is that longitudinal study will reveal prenatal drug effects,
determine whether the postnatal trajectory of brain functional connections is merely delayed or permanently
altered by initial PCE insult, and ascertain postnatal factors contributing to greater risk or resilience in func-
tional network development. This innovative approach will quantify direct and interactive effects of initial neural
deficit and postnatal environmental influences on patterns of brain and cognitive development, and will apply
hypothesis-driven and data-driven analytic methods, including machine learning, ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9980863
- **Project number:** 5R01DA042988-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Wei Gao
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $682,143
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-15 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9980863

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9980863, Effects of prenatal cocaine on early brain functional connectivity and behavior (5R01DA042988-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9980863. Licensed CC0.

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