Inter-individual variability in structural brain development from late childhood to young adulthood
Kathryn L Mills1, Kimberly D Siegmund2, Christian K Tamnes3
1Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, USA; PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway.
Neuroimage
|August 6, 2021
Summary
Brain development shows significant individual differences in structural changes from childhood to adulthood. Males and females exhibit distinct patterns, with brain size influencing developmental trajectories.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Characterizing the brain's developmental trajectory is crucial in neuroscience.
- Group-level models of structural brain development exist, but individual differences remain poorly understood.
- Understanding individual variability is key to a nuanced view of brain maturation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify and understand inter-individual variability and sex differences in structural brain changes from childhood to early adulthood.
- To investigate the relationship between overall brain size and developmental changes.
- To explore sex-specific patterns in brain development variability.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal anatomical MRI data from 269 participants (ages 8.0-26.0 years) across three international datasets.
- Analysis of changes in total gray matter volume, cortex volume, mean cortical thickness, and white matter surface area.
- Examination of sex differences and the association between brain size and developmental change rates.
Main Results:
- Considerable inter-individual variability was observed in all examined brain measures.
- Most individuals showed decreases in gray matter volume and cortical thickness in mid-adolescence.
- White matter volume initially increased but stabilized in mid-to-late adolescence; sex differences and brain size associations were noted.
Conclusions:
- Significant individual variation exists in structural brain development trajectories during adolescence and early adulthood.
- Observed sex differences and brain size correlations highlight the complexity of individual brain maturation.
- Further research into individual variation is essential for understanding healthy, at-risk, and clinical populations.
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