White matter development and early cognition in babies and toddlers

摘要: The normal myelination of neuronal axons is essential to neurodevelopment, allowing fast inter-neuronal communication. most dynamic period occurs in the first few years life, concert with a dramatic increase cognitive abilities. How these processes relate, however, still unclear. Here we aimed use data-driven technique parcellate developing white matter into regions consistent growth trajectories and investigate how related development. In large sample 183 children aged 3 months 4 years, calculated whole brain myelin volume fraction (VFM) maps using quantitative multicomponent relaxometry. We used spatial independent component analysis (ICA) blindly segment VFM images anatomically meaningful parcels distinct developmental trajectories. further investigated relationship standardized scores same children. resulting components represented mix unilateral bilateral (e.g., cortico-spinal tract, genu splenium corpus callosum, underlying inferior frontal gyrus) as well structured noise (misregistration, image artifact). were associated individual differences Specifically, temporal cortices showed significant relationships expressive receptive language Many had interaction age, becoming more strongly skills age. These data provide evidence for changing coupling between Hum Brain Mapp 35:4475–4487, 2014. © 2014 Authors. Human Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.