Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
How to Measure Cortical Folding from MR Images: a Step-by-Step Tutorial to Compute Local Gyrification Index
Published on: January 2, 2012
Long-term effects of preterm birth on cortical folding trajectories in early childhood
Yong Hun Jang1, Jong Min Kim2, Bong Gun Lee3
1Department of Paediatrics, Hanyang University Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea.
Insights
Preterm birth persistently alters brain cortical folding, particularly in the superior temporal and frontal gyri. These changes in local gyrification and sulcal depth impact neurodevelopmental outcomes, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Radiology
Background:
- Cortical folding is a critical developmental process occurring late prenatally and reorganizing in early childhood.
- The long-term effects of preterm birth on cortical folding patterns and their neurodevelopmental consequences are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term impact of preterm birth on regional cortical folding patterns in children aged 1-7 years.
- To identify specific folding alterations and their association with neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm children.
Main Methods:
- Structural MRI data from 56 preterm children and 206 full-term peers were analyzed.
- Cortical metrics, including local gyrification index and sulcal depth, were derived using a vertex-wise framework.
- Combined analysis of folding metrics and neurodevelopmental outcomes was performed.
Main Results:
- Preterm children showed significantly reduced local gyrification index and sulcal depth in bilateral superior temporal and left superior frontal gyri compared to full-term peers.
- Reduced sulcal depth in the superior temporal cortex was associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes, indicating atypical structure-function relationships.
- A simplified gyral configuration, evidenced by reduced local gyrification index, was observed in the right isthmus and posterior cingulate gyri.
Conclusions:
- Preterm birth leads to persistent, region-specific impairments in cortical folding, suggesting diverse morphogenetic disruption mechanisms.
- Altered cortical folding patterns in preterm children may impact various neurodevelopmental domains.
- Folding-sensitive markers offer potential for developing targeted interventions to improve long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Abstract:
Cortical folding emerges in the late prenatal period and undergoes rapid reorganization during early childhood. However, the long-term impact of folding alterations associated with preterm birth remains unclear. Herein, we analysed the structural MRI data of 56 preterm children and 206 full-term peers aged 1-7 years. We derived cortical metrics from the reconstructed cortical surfaces using a vertex-wise computation framework to characterize regional folding patterns. We then conducted a combined analysis of the local gyrification index and sulcal depth to explain folding patterns in the preterm brain. Compared with their full-term peers, preterm children exhibited a region-specific impairment pattern characterized by a significantly reduced local gyrification index and sulcal depth in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus and left superior frontal gyrus (P < 0.05). Notably, the sulcal depth in the superior temporal cortex showed significant differences between preterm and full-term children in its association with neurodevelopmental outcomes (P < 0.05), indicating an atypical structure-function relationship in preterm children. The local gyrification index was significantly reduced in the right isthmus cingulate and posterior cingulate gyri (P < 0.05), reflecting a simplified gyral configuration. The study findings suggest several folding patterns that capture diverse mechanisms of morphogenetic disruption, indicating that preterm birth induces persistent region-specific impairments in cortical folding that may affect neurodevelopmental domains. These folding-sensitive markers provide critical insights into the development of targeted interventions to optimize long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.
