Experience of early-life pain in premature infants is associated with atypical cerebellar development and later neurodevelopmental deficits

Infants born very and extremely premature (V/EPT) are at a significantly elevated risk for neurodevelopmental disorders and delays even in the absence of structural brain injuries. These risks may be due to earlier-than-typical exposure to the extrauterine environment, and its bright lights, loud noises, and exposures to painful procedures. Given the relative underdeveloped pain modulatory responses in these infants, frequent pain exposures may confer risk for later deficits. Resting-state fMRI scans were collected at term equivalent age from 148 (45