Early Metabolic Development of Posteromedial Cortex and Thalamus in Humans Analyzed Via In Vivo Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

摘要: The posteromedial cortex (PMC) including the posterior cingulate, retrosplenial cortex, and medial parietal cortex/precuneus is an epicenter of cortical interactions in a wide spectrum neural activity. Anatomic connections between PMC thalamic components have been established animal studies, but similar studies do not exist for fetal neonatal period. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) allows noninvasive measurement metabolites early development. Using single-voxel 3-T MRS, healthy term neonates (n 5 31, mean postconception age 41.5 weeks ± 3.8 weeks) were compared with control children 23, 9.4 years 5.1 years) young adults 10, 24.1 2.6 years). LCModel-based calculations within gray matter (colocalizing to PMC), thalamus, white voxels. Common metabolic changes existed neuronal–axonal maturation structural markers PMC, increasing NAA glutamate decreasing myoinositol choline age. Key differences creatine glucose metabolism noted contrast locations, suggesting unique role energy metabolism. Significant parallel metabolite developmental multiple other aspartate, glutamine, glutathione present thalamus. These findings offer insight into architecture interface functional topology brain networks. Further investigation unifying anatomic pathways may further enhance understanding default mode network