Structural covariance in the cortex of very preterm adolescents: A voxel-based morphometry study

摘要: On the basis of findings in normative samples that different cortical brain regions covary gray matter volume, most likely as a result mutually trophic influences during development, we aimed to study whether patterns covariation regional matter, i.e., structural covariance, differed between adolescents who were born very preterm and full-term controls. Optimized voxel-based morphometry was used magnetic resonance imaging scans from 218 (gestational age <33 weeks) 127 controls at 14-15 years age. Local volumes obtained for 18 interest involved sensorimotor higher-order cognitive functions. These then predict local remaining areas cortex, with total gender confounding variables. Very compared demonstrated differential (i.e., both increased decreased) covariance medial, frontal cingulate gyri, caudate nucleus, thalamus, primary visual cerebellum several other subcortical cortex. support previous research indicating birth is associated altered suggest developmental changes one region may cascade alterations multiple regions.