The combination of graph theoretic analyses and rs-fcMRI allowed for the examination of the dynamic relationships between multiple networks over development. In the current manuscript, we examined four networks - the cingulo-opercular, fronto-parietal, cerebellar, and default mode networks. As illustrated by qualitative observations in Figure 2 (and Video S1) and modularity analysis in Figure 4, locally organized groups of regions “segregate” over development into multiple distributed adult functional networks, while the functional networks themselves “integrate.” These results support the hypothesis that functional brain development proceeds from a “local” to “distributed” organization. However, despite the “local to distributed” developmental trend, ‘small world’ organizational properties are present in both 7–9 year old child and adult graph architecture.
