Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026
19:57
The Use of Trace Eyeblink Classical Conditioning to Assess Hippocampal Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Published on: August 5, 2017
Developmental cortical thinning in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Dongming Zhou1, Catherine Lebel, Claude Lepage
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Neuroimage
|June 28, 2011
Summary
Children and young adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) exhibit significant cortical thinning in multiple brain regions. Developmental changes in cortical thickness with age also differ in FASD compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Prenatal alcohol exposure can lead to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), affecting brain development.
- Understanding the neuroanatomical consequences of FASD is crucial for diagnosis and intervention.
- Cortical thickness is a key neuroimaging biomarker for brain development and alterations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare regional cortical thickness between individuals with FASD and controls.
- To examine age-related developmental changes in cortical thickness in both groups.
- To identify brain regions most affected by prenatal alcohol exposure.
Main Methods:
- Utilized CIVET processing of 3D T1-weighted MRI scans.
- Compared cortical thickness in 33 individuals with FASD (aged 6-30) and 33 matched controls.
- Analyzed linear developmental changes in cortical thickness across childhood and young adulthood.
Main Results:
- Individuals with FASD showed significant cortical thinning in widespread areas, including frontal, temporal, and occipital lobes.
- No significant cortical thickening was observed in the FASD group.
- Both groups exhibited age-related cortical thinning, but in distinct brain regions.
- FASD-specific thinning occurred in the middle frontal, precentral, precuneus, and occipital gyri.
- Control thinning was observed in the middle frontal, inferior frontal, precuneus, and occipital gyri.
Conclusions:
- Regional cortical thickness analysis reveals distinct neuroanatomical differences in FASD.
- Prenatal alcohol exposure leads to significant cortical thinning in specific brain regions.
- Developmental trajectories of cortical thickness differ between individuals with and without FASD.
- These findings highlight potential targets for intervention and further research in FASD.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:23Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and microglia. Abnormal...
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
01:07Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...