This study, presented by Stevenson et al., examines how neuronal activities in different regions of the cerebral cortex mature as humans age. The researchers used high-density electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from 136 preterm infants that were between 33-44 weeks postmenstrual age. They used machine learning models to estimate the functional brain age from forty four cortical parcels to identify some regional differences in the maturity of corticals. Distinct spatial gradients showed that the frontal and central cortical regions matured earlier than the occipital and temporal regions. The frontal cortex was 1.4 weeks more mature than the occipital cortex, which contradicted previous views that frontal development is normally delayed. Maturation gradients were observed along the geometric and hierarchical axes and continued through birth transitions. Maturation was largely driven by certain differences in neuronal bursting features, specifically burst sharpness and duration. Early frontal cortical maturity reflects preparation for large-scale network integration that’s essential for higher order cognitive functions. This means that spatial gradients in neuronal maturation set up a foundation for functional connectivity patterns that support future neurodevelopment.