1
|
Tang L, Kebaya LMN, Altamimi T, Kowalczyk A, Musabi M, Roychaudhuri S, Vahidi H, Meyerink P, de Ribaupierre S, Bhattacharya S, de Moraes LTAR, St Lawrence K, Duerden EG. Altered resting-state functional connectivity in newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy assessed using high-density functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3176. [PMID: 38326455 PMCID: PMC10850364 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53256-0] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) results from a lack of oxygen to the brain during the perinatal period. HIE can lead to mortality and various acute and long-term morbidities. Improved bedside monitoring methods are needed to identify biomarkers of brain health. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) can assess resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) at the bedside. We acquired resting-state fNIRS data from 21 neonates with HIE (postmenstrual age [PMA] = 39.96), in 19 neonates the scans were acquired post-therapeutic hypothermia (TH), and from 20 term-born healthy newborns (PMA = 39.93). Twelve HIE neonates also underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) post-TH. RSFC was calculated as correlation coefficients amongst the time courses for fNIRS and fMRI data, respectively. The fNIRS and fMRI RSFC maps were comparable. RSFC patterns were then measured with graph theory metrics and compared between HIE infants and healthy controls. HIE newborns showed significantly increased clustering coefficients, network efficiency and modularity compared to controls. Using a support vector machine algorithm, RSFC features demonstrated good performance in classifying the HIE and healthy newborns in separate groups. Our results indicate the utility of fNIRS-connectivity patterns as potential biomarkers for HIE and fNIRS as a new bedside tool for newborns with HIE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lingkai Tang
- Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Lilian M N Kebaya
- Neuroscience, Schulich Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Schulich Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Talal Altamimi
- Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Schulich Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Alexandra Kowalczyk
- Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Schulich Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Melab Musabi
- Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Schulich Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Sriya Roychaudhuri
- Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Schulich Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Homa Vahidi
- Neuroscience, Schulich Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Paige Meyerink
- Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Schulich Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Sandrine de Ribaupierre
- Neuroscience, Schulich Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Soume Bhattacharya
- Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Schulich Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - Keith St Lawrence
- Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Medical Biophysics, Schulich Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Emma G Duerden
- Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
- Neuroscience, Schulich Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
- Applied Psychology, Faculty of Education, Western University, 1137 Western Rd, London, ON, N6G 1G7, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Efficient Claustrum Segmentation in T2-weighted Neonatal Brain MRI Using Transfer Learning from Adult Scans. Clin Neuroradiol 2022; 32:665-676. [PMID: 35072752 PMCID: PMC9424135 DOI: 10.1007/s00062-021-01137-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
Intrauterine claustrum and subplate neuron development have been suggested to overlap. As premature birth typically impairs subplate neuron development, neonatal claustrum might indicate a specific prematurity impact; however, claustrum identification usually relies on expert knowledge due to its intricate structure. We established automated claustrum segmentation in newborns.
Methods
We applied a deep learning-based algorithm for segmenting the claustrum in 558 T2-weighted neonatal brain MRI of the developing Human Connectome Project (dHCP) with transfer learning from claustrum segmentation in T1-weighted scans of adults. The model was trained and evaluated on 30 manual bilateral claustrum annotations in neonates.
Results
With only 20 annotated scans, the model yielded median volumetric similarity, robust Hausdorff distance and Dice score of 95.9%, 1.12 mm and 80.0%, respectively, representing an excellent agreement between the automatic and manual segmentations. In comparison with interrater reliability, the model achieved significantly superior volumetric similarity (p = 0.047) and Dice score (p < 0.005) indicating stable high-quality performance. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the transfer learning technique was demonstrated in comparison with nontransfer learning. The model can achieve satisfactory segmentation with only 12 annotated scans. Finally, the model’s applicability was verified on 528 scans and revealed reliable segmentations in 97.4%.
Conclusion
The developed fast and accurate automated segmentation has great potential in large-scale study cohorts and to facilitate MRI-based connectome research of the neonatal claustrum. The easy to use models and codes are made publicly available.
Collapse
|
3
|
Singer D, Thiede LP, Perez A. Adults Born Preterm: Long-Term Health Risks of Former Very Low Birth Weight Infants. DEUTSCHES ARZTEBLATT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 118:521-527. [PMID: 33734986 DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2021.0164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advances in neonatology now enable increasing numbers of very low birth weight neonates (<1500 g) to survive into early adulthood and beyond. What are the implications for their long-term care? METHODS Selective literature search on the outcome of very low birth weight neonates in adulthood ("adults born preterm"). RESULTS Robust data are available on the pulmonary, metabolic, cardiovascular, renal, neurocognitive, sensory-visual, social-emotional, mental, reproductive, and musculoskeletal long-term risks. On the somatic level, elevated rates have been documented for asthma (odds Ratio [OR] 2.37), diabetes mellitus (OR 1.54), and chronic renal disease (hazard ratio [HR] 3.01), along with the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular sequelae of a tendency toward arterial hypertension. On the psychosocial level, the main findings are deficits in romantic partnerships (OR 0.72) and a lower reproduction rate (relative risk [RR] male/female 0.24/0.33). The affected women also have an elevated risk of preterm delivery. CONCLUSION A risk profile with both somatic and psychosocial aspects can be discerned for adults who were born prematurely, even if some of these risks are present in low absolute numbers. As the ability to compensate for latent deficits declines with age, such adults may suffer from "premature aging as the late price of premature birth." A holistic approach to care with personalized prevention strategies-which for most of them was discontinued at discharge from pediatric follow-up-therefore seems appropriate in adulthood as well.
Collapse
|
4
|
Padilla N, Saenger VM, van Hartevelt TJ, Fernandes HM, Lennartsson F, Andersson JLR, Kringelbach M, Deco G, Åden U. Breakdown of Whole-brain Dynamics in Preterm-born Children. Cereb Cortex 2021; 30:1159-1170. [PMID: 31504269 PMCID: PMC7132942 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain operates at a critical point that is balanced between order and disorder. Even during rest, unstable periods of random behavior are interspersed with stable periods of balanced activity patterns that support optimal information processing. Being born preterm may cause deviations from this normal pattern of development. We compared 33 extremely preterm (EPT) children born at < 27 weeks of gestation and 28 full-term controls. Two approaches were adopted in both groups, when they were 10 years of age, using structural and functional brain magnetic resonance imaging data. The first was using a novel intrinsic ignition analysis to study the ability of the areas of the brain to propagate neural activity. The second was a whole-brain Hopf model, to define the level of stability, desynchronization, or criticality of the brain. EPT-born children exhibited fewer intrinsic ignition events than controls; nodes were related to less sophisticated aspects of cognitive control, and there was a different hierarchy pattern in the propagation of information and suboptimal synchronicity and criticality. The largest differences were found in brain nodes belonging to the rich-club architecture. These results provide important insights into the neural substrates underlying brain reorganization and neurodevelopmental impairments related to prematurity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nelly Padilla
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Victor M Saenger
- Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Center for Brain and Cognition, Computational Neuroscience Group, Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Roc Boronat 138, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tim J van Hartevelt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Warneford Ln, Oxford OX3 7JX, Storbritannien, United Kingdom.,Center for Music in the Brain, Aarhus University Hospital Nørrebrogade 44, Building 10G, 4th and 5th floor, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Henrique M Fernandes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Warneford Ln, Oxford OX3 7JX, Storbritannien, United Kingdom.,Center for Music in the Brain, Aarhus University Hospital Nørrebrogade 44, Building 10G, 4th and 5th floor, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Finn Lennartsson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Skånes universitetssjukhus Lund, Barngatan, Sweden
| | - Jesper L R Andersson
- FMRIB-Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Morten Kringelbach
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Warneford Ln, Oxford OX3 7JX, Storbritannien, United Kingdom.,Center for Music in the Brain, Aarhus University Hospital Nørrebrogade 44, Building 10G, 4th and 5th floor, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Gustavo Deco
- Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Center for Brain and Cognition, Computational Neuroscience Group, Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Roc Boronat 138, Barcelona, Spain.,Institució Catalana de la Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.,School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Clayton VIC, Australia
| | - Ulrika Åden
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neonatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Advances in functional and diffusion neuroimaging research into the long-term consequences of very preterm birth. J Perinatol 2021; 41:689-706. [PMID: 33099576 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-020-00865-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Very preterm birth (<32 weeks of gestation) has been associated with lifelong difficulties in a variety of neurocognitive functions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with advanced analytical approaches have been employed in order to increase our understanding of the neurodevelopmental problems that many very preterm born individuals face as they grow up. In this review, we will focus on two novel imaging techniques that have explored relationships between specific brain mechanisms and behavioural outcomes. These are functional MRI, which maps regional, time-varying changes in brain metabolism and diffusion-weighted MRI, which measures the displacement of water molecules in tissue and provides quantitative information about tissue microstructure. Identifying the neurobiological underpinning of the long-term sequelae associated with very preterm birth could inform the development and implementation of preventative interventions (before any cognitive problem emerges) and could facilitate the identification of behavioural targets for improving the life course outcomes of very preterm individuals.
Collapse
|
6
|
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging during Visual Perception Tasks in Adolescents Born Prematurely. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2021; 27:270-281. [PMID: 32928332 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617720000867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Impairments in visual perception are among the most common developmental difficulties related to being born prematurely, and they are often accompanied by problems in other developmental domains. Neural activation in participants born prematurely and full-term during tasks that assess several areas of visual perception has not been studied. To better understand the neural substrates of the visual perceptual impairments, we compared behavioral performance and brain activations during visual perception tasks in adolescents born very preterm (birth weight ≤1500 g or gestational age <32 weeks) and full-term. METHODS Tasks assessing visual closure, discrimination of a deviating figure, and discrimination of figure and ground from the Motor-Free Visual Perception Test, Third Edition were performed by participants born very preterm (n = 37) and full-term (n = 34) at 12 years of age during functional magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS Behavioral performance in the visual perception tasks did not differ between the groups. However, during the visual closure task, brain activation was significantly stronger in the group born very preterm in a number of areas including the frontal, anterior cingulate, temporal, and posterior medial parietal/cingulate cortices, as well as in parts of the cerebellum, thalamus, and caudate nucleus. CONCLUSIONS Differing activations during the visual closure task potentially reflect a compensatory neural process related to premature birth or lesser neural efficiency or may be a result of the use of compensatory behavioral strategies in the study group born very preterm.
Collapse
|
7
|
Della Rosa PA, Canini M, Marchetta E, Cirillo S, Pontesilli S, Scotti R, Natali Sora MG, Poloniato A, Barera G, Falini A, Scifo P, Baldoli C. The effects of the functional interplay between the Default Mode and Executive Control Resting State Networks on cognitive outcome in preterm born infants at 6 months of age. Brain Cogn 2020; 147:105669. [PMID: 33341657 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2020.105669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Preterm birth can affect cognitive functions, such as attention or more generally executive control mechanisms, with severity in impairments proportional to prematurity. The functional cross-talk between the Default Mode (DMN) and Executive Control (ECN) networks mirrors the integrity of cognitive processing and is directly related to brain development. In this study, a cohort of 20 preterm-born infants was investigated using rs-fMRI. First, we addressed biological maturity of the DMN per se and its interplay with the ECN in terms of patterns of increased functional connectivity. Second, we assessed the impact of the degree of prematurity on the DMN-ECN functional interplay development in relation to cognitive outcome at six months. Our results highlighted the emergence of DMN in preterm neonates, with connectivity strength and synchronization between the anterior DMN hub and frontal areas increasing as a function of biological maturity. Further, cognitive scores at 6 months were predicted by mPFC-ECN connectivity strength with degree of prematurity impacting on mPFC-ECN connectivity and triggering differential patterns of functional maturation of the ECN for very early/early and moderate/late preterm neonates. Our findings suggest that the prematurity window allows to observe precursors of functional plasticity that may underlie different developmental trajectories in preterm children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Matteo Canini
- Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Marchetta
- Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Cirillo
- Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Pontesilli
- Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Scotti
- Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Antonella Poloniato
- Unit of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Graziano Barera
- Unit of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Falini
- Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Scifo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
| | - Cristina Baldoli
- Department of Neuroradiology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sripada K, Bjuland KJ, Sølsnes AE, Håberg AK, Grunewaldt KH, Løhaugen GC, Rimol LM, Skranes J. Trajectories of brain development in school-age children born preterm with very low birth weight. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15553. [PMID: 30349084 PMCID: PMC6197262 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33530-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth (gestational age < 37 weeks) with very low birth weight (VLBW, birth weight ≤ 1500 g) is associated with lifelong cognitive deficits, including in executive function, and persistent alterations in cortical and subcortical structures. However, it remains unclear whether “catch-up” growth is possible in the preterm/VLBW brain. Longitudinal structural MRI was conducted with children born preterm with VLBW (n = 41) and term-born peers participating in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) (n = 128) at two timepoints in early school age (mean ages 8.0 and 9.3 years). Images were analyzed with the FreeSurfer 5.3.0 longitudinal stream to assess differences in development of cortical thickness, surface area, and brain structure volumes, as well as associations with executive function development (NEPSY Statue and WMS-III Spatial Span scores) and perinatal health markers. No longitudinal group × time effects in cortical thickness, surface area, or subcortical volumes were seen, indicating similar brain growth trajectories in the groups over an approximately 16-month period in middle childhood. Higher IQ scores within the VLBW group were associated with greater surface area in left parieto-occipital and inferior temporal regions. Among VLBW preterm-born children, cortical surface area was smaller across the cortical mantle, and cortical thickness was thicker occipitally and frontally and thinner in lateral parietal and posterior temporal areas. Smaller volumes of corpus callosum, right globus pallidus, and right thalamus persisted in the VLBW group from timepoint 1 to 2. VLBW children had on average IQ 1 SD below term-born MoBa peers and significantly worse scores on WMS-III Spatial Span. Executive function scores did not show differential associations with morphometry between groups cross-sectionally or longitudinally. This study investigated divergent or “catch-up” growth in terms of cortical thickness, surface area, and volumes of subcortical gray matter structures and corpus callosum in children born preterm/VLBW and did not find group × time interactions. Greater surface area at mean age 9.3 in left parieto-occipital and inferior temporal cortex was associated with higher IQ in the VLBW group. These results suggest that preterm VLBW children may have altered cognitive networks, yet have structural growth trajectories that appear generally similar to their term-born peers in this early school age window.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Sripada
- Department of Clinical & Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science & Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - K J Bjuland
- Department of Pediatrics, Sørlandet Hospital, Arendal, Norway
| | - A E Sølsnes
- Department of Clinical & Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science & Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - A K Håberg
- Department of Neuromedicine & Movement Science, Norwegian University of Science & Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - K H Grunewaldt
- Department of Clinical & Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science & Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Pediatrics, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - G C Løhaugen
- Department of Pediatrics, Sørlandet Hospital, Arendal, Norway
| | - L M Rimol
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Circulation & Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science & Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - J Skranes
- Department of Clinical & Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science & Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Pediatrics, Sørlandet Hospital, Arendal, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Olsen A, Dennis EL, Evensen KAI, Husby Hollund IM, Løhaugen GCC, Thompson PM, Brubakk AM, Eikenes L, Håberg AK. Preterm birth leads to hyper-reactive cognitive control processing and poor white matter organization in adulthood. Neuroimage 2017; 167:419-428. [PMID: 29191480 PMCID: PMC6625518 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.11.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals born preterm with very low birth weight (VLBW; birth weight ≤ 1500 g) are at high risk for perinatal brain injuries and deviant brain development, leading to increased chances of later cognitive, emotional, and behavioral problems. Here we investigated the neuronal underpinnings of both reactive and proactive cognitive control processes in adults with VLBW. We included 32 adults born preterm with VLBW (before 37th week of gestation) and 32 term-born controls (birth weight ≥10th percentile for gestational age) between 22 and 24 years of age that have been followed prospectively since birth. Participants performed a well-validated Not-X continuous performance test (CPT) adapted for use in a mixed block- and event-related fMRI protocol. BOLD fMRI and DTI data was acquired on a 3T scanner. Performance on the Not-X CPT was highly similar between groups. However, the VLBW group demonstrated hyper-reactive cognitive control processing and disrupted white matter organization. The hyper-reactive brain activation signature in VLBW adults was associated with lower gestational age, lower fluid intelligence score, and anxiety problems. Automated Multi-Atlas Tract Extraction (AutoMATE) analyses revealed that this disruption of normal brain function was accompanied by poorer white matter organization in the anterior thalamic radiation and the cingulum, as reflected in both reduced fractional anisotropy and increased mean diffusivity. These findings show that the preterm behavioral phenotype is associated with predominantly reactive-, rather than proactive cognitive control processing, as well as white matter abnormalities, that may underlie common difficulties that many preterm born individuals experience in everyday life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Olsen
- Department of Psychology, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Emily L Dennis
- Imaging Genetics Center, Stevens Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA, USA
| | - Kari Anne I Evensen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Physiotherapy, Trondheim Municipality, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ingrid Marie Husby Hollund
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Paul M Thompson
- Imaging Genetics Center, Stevens Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA, USA
| | - Ann-Mari Brubakk
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Live Eikenes
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Asta K Håberg
- Department of Neuromedicine, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Medical Imaging, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
White matter alterations to cingulum and fornix following very preterm birth and their relationship with cognitive functions. Neuroimage 2017; 150:373-382. [PMID: 28216430 PMCID: PMC5405171 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Revised: 11/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Very preterm birth (VPT; <32 weeks of gestation) has been associated with impairments in memory abilities and functional neuroanatomical brain alterations in medial temporal and fronto-parietal areas. Here we investigated the relationship between structural connectivity in memory-related tracts and various aspects of memory in VPT adults (mean age 19) who sustained differing degrees of perinatal brain injury (PBI), as assessed by neonatal cerebral ultrasound. We showed that the neurodevelopmental consequences of VPT birth persist into young adulthood and are associated with neonatal cranial ultrasound classification. At a cognitive level, VPT young adults showed impairments specific to effective organization of verbal information and visuospatial memory, whereas at an anatomical level they displayed reduced volume of memory-related tracts, the cingulum and the fornix, with greater alterations in those individuals who experienced high-grade PBI. When investigating the association between these tracts and memory scores, perseveration errors were associated with the volume of the fornix and dorsal cingulum (connecting medial frontal and parietal lobes). Visuospatial memory scores were associated with the volume of the ventral cingulum (connecting medial parietal and temporal lobes). These results suggest that structural connectivity alterations could underlie memory difficulties in preterm born individuals. Very preterm born adults exhibit memory and learning impairments. White matter tracts implicated in memory are altered following perinatal brain injury. Structural alterations to memory tracts may underlie specific memory impairments.
Collapse
|
11
|
Tseng CEJ, Froudist-Walsh S, Brittain PJ, Karolis V, Caldinelli C, Kroll J, Counsell SJ, Williams SCR, Murray RM, Nosarti C. A multimodal imaging study of recognition memory in very preterm born adults. Hum Brain Mapp 2016; 38:644-655. [PMID: 27647705 PMCID: PMC5244672 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Revised: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Very preterm (<32 weeks of gestation) birth is associated with structural brain alterations and memory impairments throughout childhood and adolescence. Here, we used functional MRI (fMRI) to study the neuroanatomy of recognition memory in 49 very preterm‐born adults and 50 controls (mean age: 30 years) during completion of a task involving visual encoding and recognition of abstract pictures. T1‐weighted and diffusion‐weighted images were also collected. Bilateral hippocampal volumes were calculated and tractography of the fornix and cingulum was performed and assessed in terms of volume and hindrance modulated orientational anisotropy (HMOA). Online recognition memory task performance, assessed with A scores, was poorer in the very preterm compared with the control group. Analysis of fMRI data focused on differences in neural activity between the recognition and encoding trials. Very preterm born adults showed decreased activation in the right middle frontal gyrus and posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus and increased activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus and bilateral lateral occipital cortex (LOC) compared with controls. Hippocampi, fornix and cingulum volume was significantly smaller and fornix HMOA was lower in very preterm adults. Among all the structural and functional brain metrics that showed statistically significant group differences, LOC activation was the best predictor of online task performance (P = 0.020). In terms of association between brain function and structure, LOC activation was predicted by fornix HMOA in the preterm group only (P = 0.020). These results suggest that neuroanatomical alterations in very preterm born individuals may be underlying their poorer recognition memory performance. Hum Brain Mapp 38:644–655, 2017. © 2016 The Authors Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chieh-En Jane Tseng
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Seán Froudist-Walsh
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Philip J Brittain
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Vyacheslav Karolis
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Chiara Caldinelli
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Jasmin Kroll
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Serena J Counsell
- Centre for the Developing Brain, Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Steven C R Williams
- Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin M Murray
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Chiara Nosarti
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Nosarti C, Froudist‐Walsh S. Alterations in development of hippocampal and cortical memory mechanisms following very preterm birth. Dev Med Child Neurol 2016; 58 Suppl 4:35-45. [PMID: 27027606 PMCID: PMC4819886 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.13042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Deficits in memory function have been described in children and adolescents who were born very preterm (VPT), which can have profound effects on their school achievement and everyday life. However, to date, little is known about the development of the neuroanatomical substrates of memory following VPT birth. Here we focus on episodic and working memory and highlight key recent functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies that have advanced our understanding of the relationship between alterations seen in the VPT brain and typical neurodevelopment of networks supporting these memory functions. We contrast evidence from the episodic and working memory literatures and suggest that knowledge gained from these functional and neuroanatomical studies may point to specific time windows in which working memory interventions may be most effective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Nosarti
- Department of Psychosis StudiesInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's CollegeLondonUK
| | - Seán Froudist‐Walsh
- Department of Psychosis StudiesInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's CollegeLondonUK
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Mento G, Nosarti C. The case of late preterm birth: sliding forwards the critical window for cognitive outcome risk. Transl Pediatr 2015; 4:214-8. [PMID: 26835378 PMCID: PMC4729052 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2224-4336.2015.06.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Many survivors of preterm birth experience neurodevelopmental disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, visual and hearing problems. However, even in the absence of major neurological complications, premature babies show significant neuropsychological and behavioural deficits during childhood and beyond. While the clinical tools routinely used to assess neurocognitive development in those infants have been useful in detecting major clinical complications in early infancy, they have not been equally sensitive in identifying subtle cognitive impairments emerging during childhood. These methodological concerns become even more relevant when considering the case of late preterm children (born between 34 and 36 gestational weeks). Although these children have been traditionally considered as having similar risks for developmental problems as neonates born at term, a recent line of research has provided growing evidence that even late preterm children display altered structural and functional brain maturation, with potential life-long implications for neurocognitive functioning. A recent study by Heinonen put forward the hypothesis that environmental factors, in this case educational attainment, could moderate the association between late preterm birth (LPT) and neuropsychological impairments commonly associated with aging. In this paper we bring together clinical literature and recent neuroimaging evidence in order to provide two different but complementary approaches for a better understanding of the "nature-nurture" interplay underlying the lifespan neurocognitive development of preterm babies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Mento
- 1 Department of Developmental and Social Psychology (DPSS), University of Padua, Padua, Italy ; 2 Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Chiara Nosarti
- 1 Department of Developmental and Social Psychology (DPSS), University of Padua, Padua, Italy ; 2 Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|