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Brain Structure and Function
Published in: Brain Structure and Function 4/2018

01-05-2018 | Original Article

Investigation of brain structure in the 1-month infant

Authors: Douglas C. Dean III, E. M. Planalp, W. Wooten, C. K. Schmidt, S. R. Kecskemeti, C. Frye, N. L. Schmidt, H. H. Goldsmith, A. L. Alexander, R. J. Davidson

Published in: Brain Structure and Function | Issue 4/2018

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Abstract

The developing brain undergoes systematic changes that occur at successive stages of maturation. Deviations from the typical neurodevelopmental trajectory are hypothesized to underlie many early childhood disorders; thus, characterizing the earliest patterns of normative brain development is essential. Recent neuroimaging research provides insight into brain structure during late childhood and adolescence; however, few studies have examined the infant brain, particularly in infants under 3 months of age. Using high-resolution structural MRI, we measured subcortical gray and white matter brain volumes in a cohort (N = 143) of 1-month infants and examined characteristics of these volumetric measures throughout this early period of neurodevelopment. We show that brain volumes undergo age-related changes during the first month of life, with the corresponding patterns of regional asymmetry and sexual dimorphism. Specifically, males have larger total brain volume and volumes differ by sex in regionally specific brain regions, after correcting for total brain volume. Consistent with findings from studies of later childhood and adolescence, subcortical regions appear more rightward asymmetric. Neither sex differences nor regional asymmetries changed with gestation-corrected age. Our results complement a growing body of work investigating the earliest neurobiological changes associated with development and suggest that asymmetry and sexual dimorphism are present at birth.
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Metadata
Title
Investigation of brain structure in the 1-month infant
Authors
Douglas C. Dean III
E. M. Planalp
W. Wooten
C. K. Schmidt
S. R. Kecskemeti
C. Frye
N. L. Schmidt
H. H. Goldsmith
A. L. Alexander
R. J. Davidson
Publication date
01-05-2018
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Brain Structure and Function / Issue 4/2018
Print ISSN: 1863-2653
Electronic ISSN: 1863-2661
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-017-1600-2

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