Functional connectivity maps and small-world network characteristics of the functional networks in TD and congenital SNHL infants. (A) Functional connectivity maps. (B) Small-world properties of the functional networks. Error bars indicate the standard errors of each subgroup.

Within-group asymmetry in global efficiency (Eglob) (A) and local efficiency (Eloc) (B) for the TD infants and the SNHL infants. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.

Developmental differences in hemispheric networks in TD and congenital SNHL infants. (A) Developmental comparisons in the AI of global efficiency (Eglob) and local efficiency (Eloc). (B) Developmental comparisons in global efficiency and local efficiency within each hemisphere.

Within-group hemispheric asymmetry in regional nodal efficiency. Red nodes: left > right, significant after correction. Orange nodes: left > right, significant before correction. Dark blue: left < right, significant after correction. Light blue: left < right, significant before correction. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Developmental differences in regional nodal efficiency for TD and congenital SNHL infants. (A-D) Developmental comparisons in the AI of nodal efficiency and the mean nodal efficiency within frontal regions of each hemisphere. (A) for the nodes located in frontal regions, (B) for the nodes located in temporal regions, (C) for the nodes located in parietal regions, and (D) for the nodes located in occipital regions.

Demographic characteristics of all participants.

fNIRS probe arrangement and MRI neuroanatomical coregistration. (A) The arrangement of the 64 measurement channels. The red and blue dots represent the sources and detectors, respectively. The green dots with digits represent the positions of the measurement channels. (B) MRI coregistration was conducted by an infant aged 6 months old wearing probe arrays with vitamin E capsules in MRI. Green dots with digits represent the measurement channels covering each hemisphere’s frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital areas.