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Structural and functional asymmetry of the neonatal cerebral cortex
Logan Z J Williams1,2, Sean P Fitzgibbon3, Jelena Bozek4
1Centre for the Developing Brain, Department of Perinatal Imaging and Health, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK. logan.williams@kcl.ac.uk.
Nature Human Behaviour
|March 17, 2023
Summary
Brain asymmetry is evident in newborns, showing significant structural and functional differences from adulthood. These early brain asymmetries are present from birth and develop over time.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Brain asymmetry is linked to cognitive functions, but its developmental origins remain unclear.
- Understanding early brain development is crucial for cognitive neuroscience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cortical asymmetries in healthy term-born neonates.
- To compare neonatal cortical asymmetries with those in preterm infants and adults.
Main Methods:
- Utilized structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from the Developing Human Connectome Project.
- Analyzed data from 442 healthy term-born neonates, 103 preterm neonates, and 1,110 healthy young adults.
Main Results:
- The neonatal cortex exhibits significant structural and functional asymmetry.
- Minimal associations were found between cortical asymmetry and preterm birth or biological sex.
- Significant differences in cortical asymmetry were observed between neonates and adults.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal brain development is characterized by marked cortical asymmetry.
- Cortical asymmetry undergoes significant changes from birth to adulthood.
- Early brain asymmetry provides a foundation for later cognitive development.
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