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Cortical Structure and Cognition in Infants and Toddlers
Jessica B Girault1, Emil Cornea2, Barbara D Goldman3
1Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|August 1, 2019
Summary
Infant brain development, including cortical thickness and surface area, is linked to cognitive skills. Early brain structure predicts later cognitive advantages in toddlers.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Cortical structure correlates with cognition in children and adults.
- Limited understanding of early cortical development supporting infant cognition.
- Rapid maturation of cortical thickness (CT) and surface area (SA) during infancy and toddlerhood.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate relationships between regional/global CT and SA with cognitive abilities in infants and toddlers.
- Examine how brain structure supports motor, language, visual reception, and general cognitive development.
- Identify key periods and brain regions for cognitive emergence in early development.
Main Methods:
- Assessed CT and SA in 487 healthy neonates, 1-year-olds, and 2-year-olds.
- Correlated regional and global brain measures with cognitive assessments.
- Utilized neuroimaging techniques to quantify cortical morphology.
Main Results:
- Thicker cortices at 1 and 2 years and larger SA at birth, 1, and 2 years are associated with cognitive advantages.
- Observed expected brain-cognition relationships alongside overlapping regions across cognitive domains.
- Cortical thickness (CT) is a notable morphological indicator, though its influence is weaker than gestational age and maternal education.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal and early postnatal cortical development significantly impacts infant and toddler cognition.
- Infancy represents a critical period of cortical plasticity and refinement for cognitive abilities.
- Cognitive development in early childhood is influenced by a combination of brain structure, gestational age, and demographic factors.
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