Structural brain development: A review of methodological approaches and best practices

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Neuroimaging and statistical modeling have advanced understanding of structural brain development in youth.
• Inconsistent findings persist in the field despite these advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review methodological diversity in longitudinal MRI studies of childhood and adolescent brain development.
• To explore how variations in methods contribute to literature inconsistencies.
• To recommend best practices for future research.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies.
• Analysis of methodological choices in study design, sample selection, image processing, and statistical analysis.
• Identification of areas needing further empirical investigation.

Main Results:

• Significant methodological diversity exists across longitudinal MRI studies.
• Specific choices in research design and analysis impact findings.
• Empirical examination of methodological impacts is often limited.

Conclusions:

• Methodological variation is a key factor contributing to inconsistent findings in child and adolescent brain development research.
• Greater transparency and standardization in reporting methods are essential.
• Adopting best practices will foster a more accurate understanding of normative brain development.