Dataset Information

A surface-based analysis of hemispheric asymmetries and folding of cerebral cortex in term-born human infants.

ABSTRACT: We have established a population average surface-based atlas of human cerebral cortex at term gestation and used it to compare infant and adult cortical shape characteristics. Accurate cortical surface reconstructions for each hemisphere of 12 healthy term gestation infants were generated from structural magnetic resonance imaging data using a novel segmentation algorithm. Each surface was inflated, flattened, mapped to a standard spherical configuration, and registered to a target atlas sphere that reflected shape characteristics of all 24 contributing hemispheres using landmark constrained surface registration. Population average maps of sulcal depth, depth variability, three-dimensional positional variability, and hemispheric depth asymmetry were generated and compared with previously established maps of adult cortex. We found that cortical structure in term infants is similar to the adult in many respects, including the pattern of individual variability and the presence of statistically significant structural asymmetries in lateral temporal cortex, including the planum temporale and superior temporal sulcus. These results indicate that several features of cortical shape are minimally influenced by the postnatal environment.

SUBMITTER: Hill J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2836191 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

A surface-based analysis of hemispheric asymmetries and folding of cerebral cortex in term-born human infants.

Hill Jason J Dierker Donna D Neil Jeffrey J Inder Terrie T Knutsen Andrew A Harwell John J Coalson Timothy T Van Essen David D

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 20100201 6

We have established a population average surface-based atlas of human cerebral cortex at term gestation and used it to compare infant and adult cortical shape characteristics. Accurate cortical surface reconstructions for each hemisphere of 12 healthy term gestation infants were generated from structural magnetic resonance imaging data using a novel segmentation algorithm. Each surface was inflated, flattened, mapped to a standard spherical configuration, and registered to a target atlas sphere ...[more]

PMID: 20147553

Similar Datasets

Project description:Our brains accommodate a largely folded cerebral cortex that associates to our advanced brain functions. Several theories have been proposed to explain the cortical folding process, reasoning the mechanical forces as neuronal tension in underlying layers, cellular expansion and glial progenitor’s diversity in the OSVZ; but the mechanistic insights and underlying genomics changes causing the appearance of cortical folds is still illusive. Importantly, no studies have attempted to comprehensively characterize the gene regulatory networks underlying cortical folding during development. Here, by using ferret as a model system, we have compared the transcriptomes of germinal layers between sulci and gyri, of different cortical areas and across two developmental stages (E30 & E34), to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the spatio-temporal dynamics of gene expression of cortical progenitors. Furthermore, we have also characterized the epigenetic landscape of germinal layers at E30 and E34, a critical period for their development, to correlate changes in chromatin at promoter and enhancer regions with the observed changes in gene expression. Our preliminary results indicate towards a clear transformational axis of gene regulation between germinal layers. By performing motif analysis of differentially expressed gene (DEGs), we reveal transcription factors which might have a critical role in determining cortical folding. The genes targeted by these factors belong to important pathways implicated in proliferation and neurogenesis. We highlight potential candidates in cortical folding through functional validation studies and acetylation (H3K27ac) levels for these genes correlate with their expression state. Importantly, these are critical for cell adhesion, migration and proliferation processes in-line with previous studies stating that proliferative divisions cause neocortical expansions. Our findings will have strong impact on the clinical interventions for neurological disorders relating to cortical malformation, while at the same time enhancing our understanding of molecular circuitry underlying gyrencephalic brain development and folding.

Project description:BackgroundInfants born at 29-36 weeks gestational age (GA) are at risk of experiencing neurodevelopmental challenges. We hypothesize that cerebral hemodynamics and oxygen metabolism measured by bedside optical brain monitoring are potential biomarkers of brain development and are associated with neurological examination at term-equivalent age (TEA).MethodsPreterm infants (N = 133) born 29-36 weeks GA and admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Combined frequency-domain near infrared spectroscopy (FDNIRS) and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) were used from birth to TEA to measure cerebral hemoglobin oxygen saturation and an index of microvascular cerebral blood flow (CBF i ) along with peripheral arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2). In combination with hemoglobin concentration in the blood, these parameters were used to derive cerebral oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) and an index of cerebral oxygen metabolism (CMRO2i ). The Amiel-Tison and Gosselin Neurological Assessment was performed at TEA. Linear regression models were used to assess the associations between changes in FDNIRS-DCS parameters from birth to TEA and GA at birth. Logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between changes in FDNIRS-DCS parameters from birth to TEA and neurological examination at TEA.ResultsSteeper increases in CBF i (p < 0.0001) and CMRO2i (p = 0.0003) were associated with higher GA at birth. Changes in OEF, CBF i , and CMRO2i from birth to TEA were not associated with neurological examination at TEA.ConclusionIn this population, cerebral FDNIRS-DCS parameters were not associated with neurological examination at TEA. Larger increases in CBF i and CMRO2i from birth to TEA were associated with higher GA. Non-invasive bedside FDNIRS-DCS monitoring provides cerebral hemodynamic and metabolic parameters that may complement neurological examination to assess brain development in preterm infants.

Dataset Information

A surface-based analysis of hemispheric asymmetries and folding of cerebral cortex in term-born human infants.

Publications

A surface-based analysis of hemispheric asymmetries and folding of cerebral cortex in term-born human infants.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets