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Updated: Feb 24, 2026
Preterm EEG: A Multimodal Neurophysiological Protocol
Published on: February 18, 2012
White matter microstructure of 6-year old children born preterm and full term
Cory K Dodson1, Katherine E Travis1, Michal Ben-Shachar2,3
1Division of Developmental and Behavioral Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1265 Welch Road X119, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Insights
White matter microstructure differences between preterm-born and full-term-born children are evident as early as age 6. These findings in fractional anisotropy (FA) are consistent with older children and robust across imaging protocols.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Previous research identified complex white matter (WM) microstructure differences in older children (9-17 years) born preterm (PT) compared to full-term (FT).
- These differences suggest potential long-term impacts of preterm birth on brain development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if similar WM microstructure differences observed in older children are present as early as age 6.
- To determine the presence of specific fractional anisotropy (FA) patterns in 6-year-old children born PT versus FT.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion MRI (dMRI) scans were acquired from 6-year-old children born PT (n=20) and FT (n=38).
- Two dMRI protocols (30 and 96 directions) were used to assess WM microstructure.
- Deterministic tractography was employed to analyze FA along specific bilateral cerebral WM pathways.
Main Results:
- Children born PT exhibited significantly decreased FA in the uncinate fasciculi and forceps major compared to FT children.
- Conversely, PT children showed significantly increased FA in the right anterior thalamic radiation, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculi, and inferior longitudinal fasciculi.
- The observed pattern of FA differences in 6-year-olds mirrored findings in older PT and FT individuals and was consistent across both dMRI acquisition protocols.
Conclusions:
- The neurobiological underpinnings of observed WM microstructure differences between PT and FT children are present by age 6.
- The consistency of FA differences across dMRI protocols highlights their robustness.
- Further research using quantitative neuroimaging is warranted to elucidate the specific tissue properties contributing to these persistent WM differences post-preterm birth.
Aim:
We previously observed a complex pattern of differences in white matter (WM) microstructure between preterm-born (PT) and full-term-born (FT) children and adolescents age 9-17 years. The aim of this study was to determine if the same differences exist as early as age 6 years.
Method:
We obtained diffusion MRI (dMRI) scans in children born PT at age 6 years (n = 20; 11 males) and FT (n = 38; 14 males), using two scanning protocols: 30 diffusion directions (b = 1000 s/mm2) and 96 diffusion directions (b = 2500 s/mm2). We used deterministic tractography and analyzed fractional anisotropy (FA) along bilateral cerebral WM pathways that demonstrated differences in the older sample.
Results:
Compared to the FT group, the PT group showed (1) significantly decreased FA in the uncinate fasciculi and forceps major and (2) significantly increased FA in the right anterior thalamic radiation, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculi, and inferior longitudinal fasciculi. This pattern of group differences resembles findings in the previous study of older PT and FT participants. Group differences were similar across dMRI acquisition protocols.
Interpretation:
The underlying neurobiology driving the pattern of PT-FT differences in FA is present as early as age 6 years. Generalization across dMRI acquisition protocols demonstrates the robustness of group differences in FA. Future studies will use quantitative neuroimaging techniques to understand the tissue properties that give rise to this consistent pattern of WM differences after PT birth.
