Four-dimensional mapping of dynamic longitudinal brain subcortical development and early learning functions in infants

Liangjun Chen, Ya Wang, Zhengwang Wu, Yue Shan, Tengfei Li, Sheng-Che Hung, Lei Xing, Hongtu Zhu, Li Wang, Weili Lin and Gang Li ()
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Liangjun Chen: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ya Wang: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Zhengwang Wu: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Yue Shan: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Tengfei Li: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Sheng-Che Hung: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lei Xing: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Hongtu Zhu: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Li Wang: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Weili Lin: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Gang Li: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Brain subcortical structures are paramount in many cognitive functions and their aberrations during infancy are predisposed to various neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, making it highly essential to characterize the early subcortical normative growth patterns. This study investigates the volumetric development and surface area expansion of six subcortical structures and their associations with Mullen scales of early learning by leveraging 513 high-resolution longitudinal MRI scans within the first two postnatal years. Results show that (1) each subcortical structure (except for the amygdala with an approximately linear increase) undergoes rapid nonlinear volumetric growth after birth, which slows down at a structure-specific age with bilaterally similar developmental patterns; (2) Subcortical local area expansion reveals structure-specific and spatiotemporally heterogeneous patterns; (3) Positive associations between thalamus and both receptive and expressive languages and between caudate and putamen and fine motor are revealed. This study advances our understanding of the dynamic early subcortical developmental patterns.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38974-9

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