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Published on: January 7, 2019
Motor fMRI and cortical grey matter volume in adults born very preterm
E J Lawrence1, S Froudist-Walsh1, R Neilan1
1Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King's Health Partners, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.
Insights
Young adults born very preterm (VPT) show altered brain activity and reduced grey matter volume in motor-related areas. These neuroanatomical differences persist into adulthood, suggesting neural reorganization after early brain injury.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Individuals born very preterm (VPT; <33 weeks gestation) face increased risks of neuromotor difficulties.
- Understanding the long-term neuroanatomical consequences of VPT birth is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional neuroanatomy of motor planning, initiation, and execution in young adults born VPT.
- To compare brain activation patterns and grey matter volume between VPT individuals and controls.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess brain activity during a cued motor task.
- 20 right-handed VPT individuals and 20 controls participated.
- Whole-brain grey matter volume was quantified and correlated with functional data.
Main Results:
- Despite similar task performance, the VPT group exhibited greater activation in the right cerebellum and temporal/occipital regions.
- The VPT group showed reduced grey matter volume in the right superior frontal/premotor cortex and left middle temporal gyrus.
- Pre-motor and middle temporal grey matter volume negatively correlated with cerebellar BOLD activation.
Conclusions:
- Very preterm birth is associated with persistent functional and structural brain differences in young adulthood.
- These findings suggest neural reorganization in response to early brain injury in VPT individuals.
- Altered motor network function may underlie increased neuromotor risks in this population.
Abstract:
The primary aim of this study was to investigate the functional neuroanatomy of motor planning, initiation and execution in a cohort of young adults (mean age 20 years) who were born very preterm (VPT; <33 weeks of gestation), as these individuals are at increased risk of experiencing neuromotor difficulties compared to controls. A cued motor task was presented to 20 right-handed VPT individuals and 20 controls within a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm. Whole-brain grey matter volume was also quantified and associations with functional data were examined. Despite comparable task performance, fMRI results showed that the VPT group displayed greater brain activation compared to controls in a region comprising the right cerebellum and the lingual, parahippocampal and middle temporal gyri. The VPT group also displayed decreased grey matter volume in the right superior frontal/premotor cortex and left middle temporal gyri. Grey matter volume in the premotor and middle temporal clusters was significantly negatively correlated with BOLD activation in the cerebellum. Overall, these data suggest that preterm birth is associated with functional neuronal differences that persist into adulthood, which are likely to reflect neural reorganisation following early brain injury.
