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Updated: May 3, 2026
Preterm EEG: A Multimodal Neurophysiological Protocol
Published on: February 18, 2012
Brain development in preterm infants assessed using advanced MRI techniques
Nora Tusor1, Tomoki Arichi2, Serena J Counsell1
1Centre for the Developing Brain, Department of Perinatal Imaging, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, UK.
Insights
Preterm infants often experience neurodevelopmental issues due to impaired brain development. Advanced MRI techniques like diffusion MRI (d-MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI) offer promising ways to measure brain injury and development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Preterm birth is linked to neurocognitive and neurobehavioral abnormalities.
- Impaired brain development is a key factor in these abnormalities.
- Objective measures are needed to assess neonatal brain development and injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques for assessing brain development in preterm infants.
- To highlight the potential of diffusion MRI (d-MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI) in quantifying preterm brain injury.
- To discuss the future integration of d-MRI and fMRI for comprehensive brain assessment.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approaches.
- Employing diffusion MRI (d-MRI) for quantitative measures of brain injury.
- Exploring functional MRI (fMRI) for assessing brain function in neonates.
Main Results:
- d-MRI provides objective and reproducible measures of brain development.
- d-MRI-derived indices can quantify preterm brain injury.
- fMRI, while currently a research tool, shows potential for neonatal brain assessment.
Conclusions:
- Advanced MRI techniques, including d-MRI and fMRI, are crucial for understanding preterm infant brain development.
- d-MRI offers quantitative insights into structural brain injury.
- Future research combining d-MRI and fMRI holds significant potential for evaluating the developing brain and its response to injury.
Abstract:
Infants who are born preterm have a high incidence of neurocognitive and neurobehavioral abnormalities, which may be associated with impaired brain development. Advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approaches, such as diffusion MRI (d-MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI), provide objective and reproducible measures of brain development. Indices derived from d-MRI can be used to provide quantitative measures of preterm brain injury. Although fMRI of the neonatal brain is currently a research tool, future studies combining d-MRI and fMRI have the potential to assess the structural and functional properties of the developing brain and its response to injury.
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