Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2025

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

86.0K

Prenatal tobacco exposure on brain morphometry partially mediated poor cognitive performance in preadolescent

Pedro J Rodriguez Rivera1, Huajun Liang1, Amal Isaiah2,3

  • 1Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Neuroimmune Pharmacology and Therapeutics
|December 7, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal tobacco exposure (PTE) is linked to lower cognitive function and altered brain structure in children. These brain differences, including smaller frontal lobe areas and thalamic volumes, partially explain the cognitive deficits associated with PTE.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatric Imaging

Background:

  • Prenatal tobacco exposure (PTE) is a significant public health concern.
  • Understanding the long-term neurodevelopmental consequences of PTE is crucial for early intervention.
  • Previous research suggests potential links between PTE and cognitive deficits, but underlying neural mechanisms require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between prenatal tobacco exposure (PTE) and cognitive performance in pre-adolescent children.
  • To examine whether PTE is related to abnormal brain morphometry.
  • To determine if structural brain differences mediate the relationship between PTE and poorer cognitive outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study dataset, comparing 9-to-10-year-old children with (n=620) and without (n=10,989) PTE.
  • Assessed neurocognitive performance using NIH Toolbox® scores and brain structure using MRI.
  • Employed Linear Mixed Models, controlling for socio-demographics and other prenatal exposures, with FDR correction for multiple comparisons.

Main Results:

  • Children with PTE demonstrated poorer performance across multiple cognitive domains, including executive function, memory, and overall cognition (all p<0.05).
  • PTE was associated with thinner parahippocampal gyri, smaller cortical surface areas (posterior-cingulate, pericalcarine, lingual, inferior parietal), and reduced thalamic volumes (all p<0.001).
  • Sex-specific effects were observed: girls showed smaller frontal and parietal cortical areas, while boys had smaller putamen volumes.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal tobacco exposure is associated with poorer cognitive function and abnormal brain morphometry in pre-adolescent children.
  • Structural brain differences, specifically smaller frontal/parietal areas and thalamic volumes, partially mediate the cognitive deficits observed in children with PTE.
  • Findings highlight the neurodevelopmental impact of PTE and suggest sex-specific effects on brain structure.
Abstract

Keywords:
MRIcognitionmediationpreadolescentprenatal tobaccosex-difference

More Related Videos

Preclinical Model of Prenatal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure to Assess Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes05:13

Preclinical Model of Prenatal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure to Assess Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes

Published on: February 28, 2025

212
The Use of Trace Eyeblink Classical Conditioning to Assess Hippocampal Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders19:57

The Use of Trace Eyeblink Classical Conditioning to Assess Hippocampal Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Published on: August 5, 2017

8.4K

Related Concept Videos

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
68
Biological Influences on Intelligence01:30

Biological Influences on Intelligence

Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter...
115
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children...
301
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
42