Imaging Structural and Functional Brain Development in Early Childhood

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2018 Feb 17

PMID 29449712

Citations 359

Authors

John H Gilmore

Rebecca C Knickmeyer

Wei Gao

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In humans, the period from term birth to ∼2 years of age is characterized by rapid and dynamic brain development and plays an important role in cognitive development and risk of disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. Recent imaging studies have begun to delineate the growth trajectories of brain structure and function in the first years after birth and their relationship to cognition and risk of neuropsychiatric disorders. This Review discusses the development of grey and white matter and structural and functional networks, as well as genetic and environmental influences on early-childhood brain development. We also discuss initial evidence regarding the usefulness of early imaging biomarkers for predicting cognitive outcomes and risk of neuropsychiatric disorders.

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