Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 6, 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
9.0K
Parietal dysfunction during number processing in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
K J Woods1, E M Meintjes1, C D Molteno2
1MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa ; Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Neuroimage. Clinical
|July 23, 2015
Summary
Prenatal alcohol exposure impairs parietal lobe function in children, affecting number processing. Despite similar performance, alcohol-exposed children show reduced brain activation in key number processing regions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Prenatal alcohol exposure is linked to number processing deficits.
- Structural impairments in the parietal lobe are known in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
- Functional brain activity in the parietal lobe during number tasks remains understudied in FASD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate functional brain activation differences in parietal regions during number processing in children with prenatal alcohol exposure.
- To examine the relationship between the degree of prenatal alcohol exposure and brain activity.
- To explore compensatory mechanisms in children diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and partial fetal alcohol syndrome (pFAS).
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to study 49 children.
- Participants completed tasks involving simple addition and magnitude comparison.
- Activation in five key parietal regions associated with number processing was analyzed.
Main Results:
- Greater prenatal alcohol exposure correlated with reduced activation in the right horizontal intraparietal sulcus during both tasks.
- This region is critical for quantity representation and manipulation.
- Children with FAS/pFAS showed increased angular gyrus activation during magnitude comparison, suggesting compensation.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal alcohol exposure impacts functional brain activity in parietal regions essential for number processing.
- Despite behavioral similarities, underlying neural differences exist.
- Compensatory mechanisms may be employed by children with FAS/pFAS to mitigate deficits.
Keywords:
AA, absolute alcoholADHD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderANOVA, analysis of varianceARND, alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorderDD, developmental dyscalculiaEA, exact additionEA_CTL, control block in the exact addition taskFAS, fetal alcohol syndromeFASD, fetal alcohol spectrum disordersFetal alcohol spectrum disordersFetal alcohol syndromeHE, heavily exposedIPS, intraparietal sulcusLSD, least-squares differenceMagnitude comparisonNumber processingPFAS, partial fetal alcohol syndromePJ, proximity judgmentPJ_CTL, control block in the proximity judgment taskPSPL, posterior superior parietal lobuleParietalPrenatal alcohol exposureROI, region of interestTS, Turner syndromeUCT, University of Cape TownVBM, voxel-based morphometryWISC-III, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third EditionfMRI
Related Concept Videos
01:24Prosopagnosia
1.1K
Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...
1.1K
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
10.6K
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
10.6K