Genetic vulnerability of exposures to antenatal maternal treatments in 1– to 2-month-old infants

The growth and maturation of the nervous system are vulnerable during pregnancy. The impact of antenatal exposures to maternal treatments, in the context of genetic vulnerability of the fetus, on sensorimotor functioning in early infancy remains unexplored. Statistical features of head movements obtained from resting-state sleep fMRI scans are examined in 1- to 2-month-old infants, both those at high risk (HR) for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) due to a biological sibling with ASD and at low risk (LR) (N = 56). In utero exposures include maternal prescription medications (psychotropic Rx: N = 3(HR); N = 5(LR) vs. non-psychotropic Rx: N = 11(HR); N = 9(LR) vs. none: N = 11(HR); N = 16(LR)), psychiatric diagnoses (two or more Dx(2): N = 5(HR); N = 1(LR); one Dx(1): N = 4(HR); N = 5(LR); no Dx: N = 12(HR); N = 19(LR)), infections requiring antibiotics (infection: N = 5(HR); N = 8(LR); no infection: N = 20(HR); N = 22(LR)), or high fever (fever: N = 2(HR); N = 2(LR); no fever: N = 23(HR); N = 27(LR)). Movements with significantly higher variability are detected in infants exposed to psychotropics (e.g., opioid analgesics) and those whose mothers had fever, and this effect is significantly worse for infants at HR for ASD. Movements are significantly less variable in HR infants with non-psychotropic exposures (e.g., antibiotics). Heightened number of psychiatric or mental health conditions is associated with noisier movements in both risk groups. Genetic vulnerability due to in utero exposure to maternal treatments is an important future approach to be advanced in the field of early mind and brain development.