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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
Scanning Dos and Don'ts: Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Awake Children Aged 3 to 5 Years to Assess Brain Structure and Function
Published on: March 10, 2026
Comparison of structural magnetic resonance imaging and development in toddlers born very low birth weight and
Jean Lowe1, Susanne W Duvall, Peggy C MacLean
1Pediatric Neonatology Division, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-5313, USA. jrlowe@unm.edu
Insights
Children born very low birth weight show distinct brain structure differences in toddlerhood. These variations in brain regions correlate with neurodevelopmental outcomes, impacting cognition, language, and executive functions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Radiology
Background:
- Regional brain structural differences are linked to neurodevelopmental impairments in very low birth weight (VLBW) children.
- Previous studies primarily utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in neonates or adolescents.
- Toddlerhood represents a critical period for brain development and outcome assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between regional brain volume differences and neurodevelopmental outcomes in toddlers born VLBW.
- To compare brain structure in VLBW toddlers with a full-term control group.
- To explore how structural differences relate to cognition, language, and early executive functioning.
Main Methods:
- Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was employed to assess brain volumes.
- The study included toddlers born very low birth weight (n=16) and full-term infants (n=10) at 18-22 months adjusted age.
- Neurodevelopmental outcomes, including cognition, language, and early executive functioning, were evaluated.
Main Results:
- The VLBW group exhibited larger third ventricles and smaller volumes in cerebral white matter, thalamus, hippocampus, cerebellum white matter, and anterior cingulate compared to controls.
- A significant interaction between language, early executive function scores, and cerebral white matter volumes was observed between groups.
- These findings suggest divergent brain development trajectories in VLBW individuals.
Conclusions:
- Toddlers born very low birth weight demonstrate specific regional brain volume alterations compared to full-term peers.
- These structural differences are associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes, highlighting potential long-term impacts.
- Early identification and intervention strategies may be crucial for supporting the neurodevelopment of VLBW infants.
Abstract:
Research suggests that regional structural differences can be associated with the neurodevelopmental impairments faced by children born very low birth weight. However, most studies have used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during the neonatal period or during adolescence. The current study used structural MRI to examine relationships between regional volume differences in toddlers (18-22 months adjusted age) born very low birth weight (n = 16) and full-term (n = 10) and neurodevelopmental outcomes, including cognition, language, and early executive functioning. Compared with the full-term group, the very low birth weight group had larger third ventricles and smaller cerebral white matter, thalamus, hippocampus, cerebellum white matter, and anterior cingulate volume. Additionally, a significant interaction was found between language and early executive function scores and cerebral white matter volumes between groups, suggesting that young children born very low birth weight can have different trajectories in the growth and development of overall brain structure.
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