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Li Z, Fang H, Fan W, Wu J, Cui J, Li BM, Wang C. Brain markers of subtraction and multiplication skills in childhood: task-based functional connectivity and individualized structural similarity. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae374. [PMID: 39329357 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Arithmetic, a high-order cognitive ability, show marked individual difference over development. Despite recent advancements in neuroimaging techniques have enabled the identification of brain markers for individual differences in high-order cognitive abilities, it remains largely unknown about the brain markers for arithmetic. This study used a data-driven connectome-based prediction model to identify brain markers of arithmetic skills from arithmetic-state functional connectivity and individualized structural similarity in 132 children aged 8 to 15 years. We found that both subtraction-state functional connectivity and individualized SS successfully predicted subtraction and multiplication skills but multiplication-state functional connectivity failed to predict either skill. Among the four successful prediction models, most predictive connections were located in frontal-parietal, default-mode, and secondary visual networks. Further computational lesion analyses revealed the essential structural role of frontal-parietal network in predicting subtraction and the essential functional roles of secondary visual, language, and ventral multimodal networks in predicting multiplication. Finally, a few shared nodes but largely nonoverlapping functional and structural connections were found to predict subtraction and multiplication skills. Altogether, our findings provide new insights into the brain markers of arithmetic skills in children and highlight the importance of studying different connectivity modalities and different arithmetic domains to advance our understanding of children's arithmetic skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Li
- Institute of Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Yuhangtang Road 2318, Yuhang District, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Zhejiang Philosophy and Social Science Laboratory for Research in Early Development and Childcare, Hangzhou Normal University, Yuhangtang Road 2318, Yuhang District, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Haifeng Fang
- Institute of Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Yuhangtang Road 2318, Yuhang District, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Zhejiang Philosophy and Social Science Laboratory for Research in Early Development and Childcare, Hangzhou Normal University, Yuhangtang Road 2318, Yuhang District, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Weiguo Fan
- Institute of Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Yuhangtang Road 2318, Yuhang District, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Zhejiang Philosophy and Social Science Laboratory for Research in Early Development and Childcare, Hangzhou Normal University, Yuhangtang Road 2318, Yuhang District, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Jiaoyu Wu
- Institute of Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Yuhangtang Road 2318, Yuhang District, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Zhejiang Philosophy and Social Science Laboratory for Research in Early Development and Childcare, Hangzhou Normal University, Yuhangtang Road 2318, Yuhang District, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Jiaxin Cui
- College of Education, Hebei Normal University, South Second Ring Road 20, Shijiazhuang 050016, China
| | - Bao-Ming Li
- Institute of Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Yuhangtang Road 2318, Yuhang District, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Zhejiang Philosophy and Social Science Laboratory for Research in Early Development and Childcare, Hangzhou Normal University, Yuhangtang Road 2318, Yuhang District, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Chunjie Wang
- Institute of Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Yuhangtang Road 2318, Yuhang District, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Department of Psychology, Jing Hengyi School of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Yuhangtang Road 2318, Yuhang District, Hangzhou 311121, China
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Schneider D, Bouhali F, Richter CG, Costache R, Costache C, Kirchhoffer K, Sheth V, MacDonald I, Hoeft F. Perinatal influences on academic achievement and the developing brain: a scoping systematic review. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1352241. [PMID: 38962224 PMCID: PMC11221367 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1352241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction and methods In this PRISMA-compliant systematic review, we identify and synthesize the findings of research in which neuroimaging and assessments of achievement have been used to examine the relationships among aspects of developmental programming, neurodevelopment, and achievement in reading and mathematics. Results Forty-seven studies met inclusion criteria. The majority examined the impact of prematurity (n = 32) and prenatal alcohol exposure (n = 13). Several prematurity studies reported a positive correlation between white-matter integrity of callosal fibers and executive functioning and/or achievement, and white matter properties were consistently associated with cognitive and academic performance in preterm and full-term children. Volumetric studies reported positive associations between academic and cognitive abilities and white and gray matter volume in regions such as the insula, putamen, and prefrontal lobes. Functional MRI studies demonstrated increased right-hemispheric language processing among preterm children. Altered activation of the frontoparietal network related to numerical abilities was also reported. Prenatal alcohol exposure studies reported alterations in white matter microstructure linked to deficits in cognitive functioning and academic achievement, including mathematics, reading, and vocabulary skills. Volumetric studies reported reductions in cerebral, cerebellar, and subcortical gray matter volumes associated with decreased scores on measures of executive functioning, attention, working memory, and academic performance. Functional MRI studies demonstrated broad, diffuse activation, reduced activation in canonical regions, and increased activation in non-canonical regions during numeric tasks. Discussion A preponderance of studies linked prematurity and prenatal alcohol exposure to altered neurodevelopmental processes and suboptimal academic achievement. Limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed. Systematic review registration Identifier: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/ZAN67.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Schneider
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
- Webster University, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Caroline G. Richter
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Radu Costache
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Catalina Costache
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Kaitlyn Kirchhoffer
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Vatsa Sheth
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Ibo MacDonald
- Institute of Higher Education and Research in Healthcare, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Fumiko Hoeft
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Li J, Zhang Y, Chen J, Du X, Di Y, Liu Q, Wang C, Zhang Q. Abnormal microstructure of corpus callosum in children with primary nocturnal enuresis: a DTI study. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024:10.1007/s00787-024-02416-8. [PMID: 38514474 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-024-02416-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) is a common childhood disorder with abnormal sleep or arousal. The corpus callosum (CC) continues to develop into adulthood and plays an important role in sleep arousal. This study aimed to evaluate the microstructure of the CC in children with PNE. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) indices were extracted throughout the CC and its seven subregions were compared between the children with PNE and healthy children (HC). The correlation between abnormal DTI indices of the CC and cognitive condition was also tested. Compared to HC, decreased fiber number (NF) (F = 8.492, PFDR = 0.032) and fractional anisotropy (FA) value (F = 8.442, PFDR = 0.040) were found in the posterior midbody of the CC, increased RD was found in the posterior midbody (F = 6.888, PFDR = 0.040) and isthmus (F = 7.967, PFDR = 0.040) in children with PNE. The reduction of FA value was more obvious in boys than girls with PNE. In children with PNE, there was a significant positive correlation between the NF of the posterior midbody and full IQ (r = 0.322, P = 0.025) and between the FA value and the general knowledge memory (r = 0.293, P = 0.043). This study provides imaging evidence for abnormalities in the microstructure of the CC in children with PNE, especially in male PNE, which might affect the children's cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinqiu Li
- Department of Medical Imaging and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital of Tianjin University), Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Xin Du
- Department of Medical Imaging and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Yaqin Di
- Department of Medical Imaging and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Qiaohui Liu
- Department of Medical Imaging and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Chunxiang Wang
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital of Tianjin University), Tianjin, 300134, China.
| | - Quan Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China.
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DiPiero M, Rodrigues PG, Gromala A, Dean DC. Applications of advanced diffusion MRI in early brain development: a comprehensive review. Brain Struct Funct 2023; 228:367-392. [PMID: 36585970 PMCID: PMC9974794 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-022-02605-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Brain development follows a protracted developmental timeline with foundational processes of neurodevelopment occurring from the third trimester of gestation into the first decade of life. Defining structural maturational patterns of early brain development is a critical step in detecting divergent developmental trajectories associated with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders that arise later in life. While considerable advancements have already been made in diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) for pediatric research over the past three decades, the field of neurodevelopment is still in its infancy with remarkable scientific and clinical potential. This comprehensive review evaluates the application, findings, and limitations of advanced dMRI methods beyond diffusion tensor imaging, including diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), constrained spherical deconvolution (CSD), neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) and composite hindered and restricted model of diffusion (CHARMED) to quantify the rapid and dynamic changes supporting the underlying microstructural architectural foundations of the brain in early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa DiPiero
- Department of Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | | | - Alyssa Gromala
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Douglas C Dean
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
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Trickett J, Bernardi M, Fahy A, Lancaster R, Larsen J, Ni Y, Suonpera E, Wolke D, Marlow N, Johnson S. Neuropsychological abilities underpinning academic attainment in children born extremely preterm. Child Neuropsychol 2022; 28:746-767. [PMID: 35021954 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2021.2014433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Children born extremely preterm (EP) have poorer academic attainment than their term-born peers. There is a need to identify the specific cognitive mechanisms that are associated with poor academic attainment in preterm populations to inform the development of intervention strategies. A parallel mediation analysis was conducted with cross-sectional data from 152 EP children (< 27 weeks of gestation) and 120 term-born controls who were assessed at age 11. Mathematics and reading attainment was assessed using the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test 2nd Edition. Controlling for sex and socio-economic status we evaluated the following mediators: verbal working memory, visuospatial working memory, verbal processing speed, attention, and visuospatial processing. These were assessed using subtests from the standardized NEPSY-II test and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-5th Edition. Verbal working memory, visuospatial working memory, visuospatial processing and verbal processing speed, but not attention, were significant independent mediators between EP birth and attainment in reading. No direct relationship between EP birth and reading attainment remained in the mediated model. All five neuropsychological variables mediated the relationship between EP birth and attainment in mathematics, but a direct effect of EP birth on mathematics remained in the mediated model. Together, all five neuropsychological abilities indirectly explained 44% of the variance in reading and 52% of the variance in mathematics. Visuospatial processing was the strongest mediator of both mathematics and reading. Components of executive function, especially visuospatial processing, are important predictors of academic attainment. Interventions to improve visuospatial skills could be trialed in EP populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayne Trickett
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | | | - Amanda Fahy
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rebecca Lancaster
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Jennifer Larsen
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Yanyan Ni
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Emmi Suonpera
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Dieter Wolke
- Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Neil Marlow
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Samantha Johnson
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
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