Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

Specific relations between neurodevelopmental abilities and white matter microstructure in children born preterm

Serena J Counsell1, A David Edwards, Andrew T M Chew

  • 1Imaging Sciences Department, Robert Steiner MR Unit, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK. serena.counsell@imperial.ac.uk

Brain : a Journal of Neurology
|October 28, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Preterm birth survivors with normal MRIs show impaired neurodevelopment linked to white matter microstructure changes. Fractional anisotropy (FA) in specific brain areas predicts developmental quotient (DQ) and sub-scores, aiding prognostication.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Preterm birth survivors often experience neurodevelopmental impairments not fully explained by conventional brain imaging.
  • Conventional MRI may not detect subtle white matter abnormalities impacting neurodevelopment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between white matter microstructure and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants without focal brain abnormalities.
  • To test if local changes in white matter microstructure, measured by fractional anisotropy (FA), correlate with neurodevelopmental abilities at 2 years corrected age.

Main Methods:

  • Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to measure FA in 33 preterm children at a median corrected age of 25.5 months.
  • Neurodevelopmental assessment was performed using the Griffiths Mental Development Scales, yielding a developmental quotient (DQ) and sub-scores.
  • Tract-based spatial statistics and linear regression analyzed the correlation between FA values and DQ/sub-scores.

Main Results:

  • Overall developmental quotient (DQ) showed a linear relationship with FA in specific regions of the corpus callosum.
  • Performance and eye-hand coordination sub-scores correlated with FA in various white matter tracts, including the corpus callosum, cingulum, fornix, anterior commissure, and uncinate fasciculus.
  • These findings indicate precise relationships between microstructural abnormalities and specific neurodevelopmental deficits.

Conclusions:

  • Specific neurodevelopmental impairments in preterm infants are precisely linked to consistent, localized white matter microstructural abnormalities.
  • Fractional anisotropy (FA) shows potential as a biomarker for prognostication and guiding therapeutic interventions in preterm brain injury.

More Related Videos

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis06:19

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis

Published on: January 7, 2018

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Neurulation01:30

Neurulation

Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...
Biological Influences on Intelligence01:30

Biological Influences on Intelligence

Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter more...
The Nativist Approach01:21

The Nativist Approach

The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...