Coordinated anatomical and functional variability in the human brain during adolescence
John Bero1, Yang Li1, Aviral Kumar1
1Neurogazer, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Human Brain Mapping
|December 8, 2022
Summary
Brain development in adolescents shows coordinated changes in myelination, cortical thickness, and functional connectivity (FC). These brain features mature together, particularly in sensory-motor areas, reflecting a consistent hierarchy of information processing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Brain Imaging
Background:
- Adolescence is a critical period for brain development, marked by significant changes in brain structure and function.
- Maturation of morphometric and cytoarchitectural features parallels the development of functional connectivity (FC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between myelination, cortical thickness (CT), and resting-state FC in children aged 10-15.
- To explore how these brain facets coordinate at regional and network levels during adolescence.
Main Methods:
- Computed correlation matrices for myelin, CT, and resting-state FC.
- Calculated meta-correlations among these measures at regional and network levels.
- Analyzed age-related stability and consistency with known FC gradients.
Main Results:
- Higher meta-correlations among myelin, CT, and FC were observed in sensory-motor cortical areas compared to association cortical areas.
- These coordinated relationships remained stable despite age-related changes in individual measures.
- Regional variations in meta-correlations mirrored established FC gradients, indicating a preserved hierarchy of cortical information processing.
Conclusions:
- Heterogeneity in functional connectivity across cortical areas is closely coordinated with the development of cortical myelination and thickness during adolescence.
- This coordination reflects and maintains the hierarchical organization of cortical information processing, persisting into adulthood.
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