Structural Development and Brain Asymmetry in the Fronto-limbic Regions in Preschool-aged Children

Overview

Journal Front Pediatr

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2024 Oct 16

PMID 39411282

Authors

Gang Yi Lee

Young-Ah Youn

Yong Hun Jang

Hyuna Kim

Joo Young Lee

Young Jun Lee

Minyoung Jung

Hyun Ju Lee

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Early-life experiences play a crucial role in the development of the fronto-limbic regions, influencing both macro- and microstructural changes in the brain. These alterations profoundly impact cognitive, social-emotional functions. Recently, early limbic structural alterations have been associated with numerous neurological and psychiatric morbidities. Although identifying normative developmental trajectories is essential for determining brain alterations, only a few studies have focused on examining the normative trajectories in the fronto-limbic regions during preschool-aged children. The aim of this study was to investigate the structural-developmental trajectory of the fronto-limbic regions using the cortical thickness, volume, and subcortical volume in 57 healthy and typical preschool-aged children between 1 and 5 years and examined the early lateralization patterns during the development of the fronto-limbic regions. Regarding brain lateralization, remarkable asymmetry was detected in the volume of thalamus and the cortical regions excluding the lateral orbitofrontal cortex in the fronto-limbic regions. This study of preschool-aged children may fill the knowledge gaps regarding the developmental patterns and hemispheric asymmetries of the fronto-limbic regions between newborns and adolescents.

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