Linking changes in sulcal morphometry to cognitive development from childhood to adolescence
Yijin Shan1, Huiting Qiao1, Yirong He2
1Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China.
Communications Biology
|April 8, 2026
Summary
Brain sulcal changes during childhood and adolescence predict cognitive development. Longitudinal brain remodeling, particularly sulcal widening, is linked to improvements in working memory and executive functions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Childhood and adolescence feature dynamic brain development, including cortical and sulcal changes.
- The relationship between these structural brain changes and cognitive skill development is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between sulcal morphometry changes and cognitive development in children aged 6-14 years.
- To determine if longitudinal brain remodeling or baseline structure predicts cognitive gains.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 307 children (6-14 years).
- Inclusion of longitudinal data with approximately one-year intervals for a subset of participants.
- Gene enrichment analysis to explore underlying biological mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Widespread cortical thinning and sulcal widening observed, with earliest-formed sulci showing the most significant changes.
- Longitudinal sulcal remodeling, specifically widening of the left calcarine and posterior intralingual sulci, predicted working memory improvements.
- Executive control was linked to left intraparietal sulcus widening, while attention network maturation involved global changes.
Conclusions:
- Longitudinal changes in brain structure, particularly sulcal morphometry, are crucial for cognitive development during childhood and adolescence.
- Specific sulcal remodeling patterns are associated with distinct cognitive functions, suggesting targeted developmental trajectories.
- Synaptic processes are implicated as potential mechanisms underlying these structural and cognitive changes.
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