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St. John T, Estes AM, Hazlett HC, Marrus N, Burrows CA, Donovan K, Torres Gomez S, Grzadzinski RL, Parish-Morris J, Smith R, Styner M, Garic D, Pandey J, Lee CM, Schultz RT, Botteron KN, Zwaigenbaum L, Piven J, Dager SR. Association of Sex With Neurobehavioral Markers of Executive Function in 2-Year-Olds at High and Low Likelihood of Autism. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2311543. [PMID: 37140923 PMCID: PMC10160873 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.11543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Children with autism and their siblings exhibit executive function (EF) deficits early in development, but associations between EF and biological sex or early brain alterations in this population are largely unexplored. Objective To investigate the interaction of sex, autism likelihood group, and structural magnetic resonance imaging alterations on EF in 2-year-old children at high familial likelihood (HL) and low familial likelihood (LL) of autism, based on having an older sibling with autism or no family history of autism in first-degree relatives. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective cohort study assessed 165 toddlers at HL (n = 110) and LL (n = 55) of autism at 4 university-based research centers. Data were collected from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2013, and analyzed between August 2021 and June 2022 as part of the Infant Brain Imaging Study. Main Outcomes and Measures Direct assessments of EF and acquired structural magnetic resonance imaging were performed to determine frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and total cerebral brain volume. Results A total of 165 toddlers (mean [SD] age, 24.61 [0.95] months; 90 [54%] male, 137 [83%] White) at HL for autism (n = 110; 17 diagnosed with ASD) and LL for autism (n = 55) were studied. The toddlers at HL for autism scored lower than the toddlers at LL for autism on EF tests regardless of sex (mean [SE] B = -8.77 [4.21]; 95% CI, -17.09 to -0.45; η2p = 0.03). With the exclusion of toddlers with autism, no group (HL vs LL) difference in EF was found in boys (mean [SE] difference, -7.18 [4.26]; 95% CI, 1.24-15.59), but EF was lower in HL girls than LL girls (mean [SE] difference, -9.75 [4.34]; 95% CI, -18.32 to -1.18). Brain-behavior associations were examined, controlling for overall cerebral volume and developmental level. Sex differences in EF-frontal (B [SE] = 16.51 [7.43]; 95% CI, 1.36-31.67; η2p = 0.14) and EF-parietal (B [SE] = 17.68 [6.99]; 95% CI, 3.43-31.94; η2p = 0.17) associations were found in the LL group but not the HL group (EF-frontal: B [SE] = -1.36 [3.87]; 95% CI, -9.07 to 6.35; η2p = 0.00; EF-parietal: B [SE] = -2.81 [4.09]; 95% CI, -10.96 to 5.34; η2p = 0.01). Autism likelihood group differences in EF-frontal (B [SE] = -9.93 [4.88]; 95% CI, -19.73 to -0.12; η2p = 0.08) and EF-parietal (B [SE] = -15.44 [5.18]; 95% CI, -25.86 to -5.02; η2p = 0.16) associations were found in girls not boys (EF-frontal: B [SE] = 6.51 [5.88]; 95% CI, -5.26 to 18.27; η2p = 0.02; EF-parietal: B [SE] = 4.18 [5.48]; 95% CI, -6.78 to 15.15; η2p = 0.01). Conclusions and Relevance This cohort study of toddlers at HL and LL of autism suggests that there is an association between sex and EF and that brain-behavior associations in EF may be altered in children at HL of autism. Furthermore, EF deficits may aggregate in families, particularly in girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya St. John
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle
- University of Washington Autism Center, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Annette M. Estes
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Washington, Seattle
- University of Washington Autism Center, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Heather C. Hazlett
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Carrboro, North Carolina
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill
| | - Natasha Marrus
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri
| | | | - Kevin Donovan
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Santiago Torres Gomez
- McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Rebecca L. Grzadzinski
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Carrboro, North Carolina
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill
| | - Julia Parish-Morris
- Center for Autism Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia
| | - Rachel Smith
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Carrboro, North Carolina
| | - Martin Styner
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Carrboro, North Carolina
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill
| | - Dea Garic
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Carrboro, North Carolina
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill
| | - Juhi Pandey
- Center for Autism Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia
| | - Chimei M. Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
| | - Robert T. Schultz
- Center for Autism Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia
| | - Kelly N. Botteron
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri
| | - Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Joseph Piven
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, Carrboro, North Carolina
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill
| | - Stephen R. Dager
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle
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Statsenko Y, Habuza T, Smetanina D, Simiyu GL, Uzianbaeva L, Neidl-Van Gorkom K, Zaki N, Charykova I, Al Koteesh J, Almansoori TM, Belghali M, Ljubisavljevic M. Brain Morphometry and Cognitive Performance in Normal Brain Aging: Age- and Sex-Related Structural and Functional Changes. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:713680. [PMID: 35153713 PMCID: PMC8826453 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.713680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human brain structure undergoes considerable changes throughout life. Cognitive function can be affected either negatively or positively. It is challenging to segregate normal brain aging from the accelerated one. OBJECTIVE To work out a descriptive model of brain structural and functional changes in normal aging. MATERIALS AND METHODS By using voxel-based morphometry and lesion segmentation along with linear statistics and machine learning (ML), we analyzed the structural changes in the major brain compartments and modeled the dynamics of neurofunctional performance throughout life. We studied sex differences in lifelong dynamics of brain volumetric data with Mann-Whitney U-test. We tested the hypothesis that performance in some cognitive domains might decline as a linear function of age while other domains might have a non-linear dependence on it. We compared the volumetric changes in the major brain compartments with the dynamics of psychophysiological performance in 4 age groups. Then, we tested linear models of structural and functional decline for significant differences between the slopes in age groups with the T-test. RESULTS White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are not the major structural determinant of the brain normal aging. They should be viewed as signs of a disease. There is a sex difference in the speed and/or in the onset of the gray matter atrophy. It either starts earlier or goes faster in males. Marked sex difference in the proportion of total cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and intraventricular CSF (iCSF) justifies that elderly men are more prone to age-related brain atrophy than women of the same age. CONCLUSION The article gives an overview and description of the conceptual structural changes in the brain compartments. The obtained data justify distinct patterns of age-related changes in the cognitive functions. Cross-life slowing of decision-making may follow the linear tendency of enlargement of the interhemispheric fissure because the center of task switching and inhibitory control is allocated within the medial wall of the frontal cortex, and its atrophy accounts for the expansion of the fissure. Free online tool at https://med-predict.com illustrates the tests and study results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yauhen Statsenko
- Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Big Data Analytics Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Tetiana Habuza
- Big Data Analytics Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- College of Information Technology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Darya Smetanina
- Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Gillian Lylian Simiyu
- Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Liaisan Uzianbaeva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bronxcare Hospital System, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Klaus Neidl-Van Gorkom
- Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nazar Zaki
- Big Data Analytics Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- College of Information Technology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Inna Charykova
- Laboratory of Psychology, Republican Scientific-Practical Center of Sports, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Jamal Al Koteesh
- Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Radiology, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Taleb M. Almansoori
- Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Maroua Belghali
- Department of Health and Physical Education, College of Education, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Milos Ljubisavljevic
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
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Akay LA, Effenberger AH, Tsai LH. Cell of all trades: oligodendrocyte precursor cells in synaptic, vascular, and immune function. Genes Dev 2021; 35:180-198. [PMID: 33526585 PMCID: PMC7849363 DOI: 10.1101/gad.344218.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are not merely a transitory progenitor cell type, but rather a distinct and heterogeneous population of glia with various functions in the developing and adult central nervous system. In this review, we discuss the fate and function of OPCs in the brain beyond their contribution to myelination. OPCs are electrically sensitive, form synapses with neurons, support blood-brain barrier integrity, and mediate neuroinflammation. We explore how sex and age may influence OPC activity, and we review how OPC dysfunction may play a primary role in numerous neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Finally, we highlight areas of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyla Anne Akay
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Audrey H Effenberger
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Li-Huei Tsai
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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Bajaj S, Raikes A, Smith R, Dailey NS, Alkozei A, Vanuk JR, Killgore WDS. The Relationship Between General Intelligence and Cortical Structure in Healthy Individuals. Neuroscience 2018; 388:36-44. [PMID: 30012372 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Considerable work in recent years has examined the relationship between cortical thickness (CT) and general intelligence (IQ) in healthy individuals. It is not known whether specific IQ variables (i.e., perceptual reasoning [PIQ], verbal comprehension IQ [VIQ], and full-scale IQ [FSIQ]) are associated with multiple cortical measures (i.e., CT, cortical volume (CV), cortical surface area (CSA) and cortical gyrification (CG)) within the same individuals. Here we examined the association between these neuroimaging metrics and IQ in 56 healthy adults. At a cluster-forming threshold (CFT) of p < 0.05, we observed significant positive relationships between CT and all three IQ variables in regions within the posterior frontal and superior parietal lobes. Regions within the temporal and posterior frontal lobes exhibited positive relationships between CV and two IQ variables (PIQ and FSIQ) and regions within the inferior parietal lobe exhibited positive relationships between CV and PIQ. Additionally, CV was positively associated with VIQ in the left insula and with FSIQ within the inferior frontal gyrus. At a more stringent CFT (p < 0.01), the CT-PIQ, CT-VIQ, CT-FSIQ, and CV-PIQ relationships remained significant within the posterior frontal lobe, as did the CV-PIQ relationship within the temporal and inferior parietal lobes. We did not observe statistically significant relationships between IQ and either CSA or CG. Our findings suggest that the neural basis of IQ extends beyond previously observed relationships with fronto-parietal regions. We also conclude that CT and CV may be more useful metrics than CSA or CG in the study of intellectual abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahil Bajaj
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory (SCAN Lab), Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
| | - Adam Raikes
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory (SCAN Lab), Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Ryan Smith
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory (SCAN Lab), Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Natalie S Dailey
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory (SCAN Lab), Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Anna Alkozei
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory (SCAN Lab), Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - John R Vanuk
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory (SCAN Lab), Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - William D S Killgore
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory (SCAN Lab), Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA; McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
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5
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Lee KI, Lin HC, Lee HT, Tsai FC, Lee TS. Loss of Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1 Channel Deregulates Emotion, Learning and Memory, Cognition, and Social Behavior in Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:3606-3617. [PMID: 27194300 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-9908-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel is a non-selective cation channel that helps regulate inflammatory pain sensation and nociception and the development of inflammatory diseases. However, the potential role of the TRPA1 channel and the underlying mechanism in brain functions are not fully resolved. In this study, we demonstrated that genetic deletion of the TRPA1 channel in mice or pharmacological inhibition of its activity increased neurite outgrowth. In vivo study in mice provided evidence of the TRPA1 channel as a negative regulator in hippocampal functions; functional ablation of the TRPA1 channel in mice enhanced hippocampal functions, as evidenced by less anxiety-like behavior, and enhanced fear-related or spatial learning and memory, and novel location recognition as well as social interactions. However, the TRPA1 channel appears to be a prerequisite for motor function; functional loss of the TRPA1 channel in mice led to axonal bundle fragmentation, downregulation of myelin basic protein, and decreased mature oligodendrocyte population in the brain, for impaired motor function. The TRPA1 channel may play a crucial role in neuronal development and oligodendrocyte maturation and be a potential regulator in emotion, cognition, learning and memory, and social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan-I Lee
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 11211, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Ching Lin
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 11211, Taiwan
| | - Hsueh-Te Lee
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Chuan Tsai
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzong-Shyuan Lee
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 11211, Taiwan. .,Genome Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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6
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Yang Y, Zhang Y, Luo F, Li B. Chronic stress regulates NG2+ cell maturation and myelination in the prefrontal cortex through induction of death receptor 6. Exp Neurol 2016; 277:202-214. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2016.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2015] [Revised: 12/24/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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7
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Blum K, Febo M, Smith DE, Roy AK, Demetrovics Z, Cronjé FJ, Femino J, Agan G, Fratantonio JL, Pandey SC, Badgaiyan RD, Gold MS. Neurogenetic and epigenetic correlates of adolescent predisposition to and risk for addictive behaviors as a function of prefrontal cortex dysregulation. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2015; 25:286-92. [PMID: 25919973 PMCID: PMC4442554 DOI: 10.1089/cap.2014.0146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
As addiction professionals, we are becoming increasingly concerned about preteenagers and young adults' involvement with substance abuse as a way of relieving stress and anger. The turbulent underdeveloped central nervous system, especially in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), provides impetus to not only continue important neuroimaging studies in both human and animal models, but also to encourage preventive measures and cautions embraced by governmental and social media outlets. It is well known that before people reach their 20s, PFC development is undergoing significant changes and, as such, hijacks appropriate decision making in this population. We are further proposing that early genetic testing for addiction risk alleles will offer important information that could potentially be utilized by their parents and caregivers prior to use of psychoactive drugs by these youth. Understandably, family history, parenting styles, and attachment may be modified by various reward genes, including the known bonding substances oxytocin/vasopressin, which effect dopaminergic function. Well-characterized neuroimaging studies continue to reflect region-specific differential responses to drugs and food (including other non-substance-addictive behaviors) via either "surfeit" or "deficit." With this in mind, we hereby propose a "reward deficiency solution system" that combines early genetic risk diagnosis, medical monitoring, and nutrigenomic dopamine agonist modalities to combat this significant global dilemma that is preventing our youth from leading normal productive lives, which will in turn make them happier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Blum
- Department of Psychiatry and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida.,Division of Addiction Services, Dominion Diagnostics, LLC, North Kingstown, Rhode Island.,Department of Addiction Research & Therapy, Malibu Beach Recovery Center, Malibu Beach, California.,Human Integrative Services & Translational Science, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont
| | - Marcelo Febo
- Department of Psychiatry and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida
| | - David E. Smith
- Division of Addiction Services, Dominion Diagnostics, LLC, North Kingstown, Rhode Island.,Institute of Health & Aging, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | | | - Zsolt Demetrovics
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Addiction, Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - John Femino
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Meadows Edge Recovery Center, North Kingston, Rhode Island
| | - Gozde Agan
- Division of Addiction Services, Dominion Diagnostics, LLC, North Kingstown, Rhode Island
| | - James L. Fratantonio
- Division of Applied Clinical Research, Dominion Diagnostics, LLC, North Kingstown, Rhode Island
| | - Subhash C. Pandey
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago and Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Rajendra D. Badgaiyan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota College of Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Mark S. Gold
- Department of Psychiatry and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida.,Department of Addiction Research & Therapy, Malibu Beach Recovery Center, Malibu Beach, California
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8
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Ruigrok ANV, Salimi-Khorshidi G, Lai MC, Baron-Cohen S, Lombardo MV, Tait RJ, Suckling J. A meta-analysis of sex differences in human brain structure. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2013; 39:34-50. [PMID: 24374381 PMCID: PMC3969295 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 655] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2013] [Revised: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/17/2013] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
This is the first meta-analysis of sex differences in the typical human brain. Regional sex differences overlap with areas implicated in psychiatric conditions. The amygdala, hippocampus, planum temporale and insula display sex differences. On average, males have larger brain volumes than females. Most articles providing sex differences in volume are in the ‘mature’ category.
The prevalence, age of onset, and symptomatology of many neuropsychiatric conditions differ between males and females. To understand the causes and consequences of sex differences it is important to establish where they occur in the human brain. We report the first meta-analysis of typical sex differences on global brain volume, a descriptive account of the breakdown of studies of each compartmental volume by six age categories, and whole-brain voxel-wise meta-analyses on brain volume and density. Gaussian-process regression coordinate-based meta-analysis was used to examine sex differences in voxel-based regional volume and density. On average, males have larger total brain volumes than females. Examination of the breakdown of studies providing total volumes by age categories indicated a bias towards the 18–59 year-old category. Regional sex differences in volume and tissue density include the amygdala, hippocampus and insula, areas known to be implicated in sex-biased neuropsychiatric conditions. Together, these results suggest candidate regions for investigating the asymmetric effect that sex has on the developing brain, and for understanding sex-biased neurological and psychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber N V Ruigrok
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 8AH, United Kingdom.
| | - Gholamreza Salimi-Khorshidi
- Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 8AH, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1 Jen-Ai Road Section 1, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 8AH, United Kingdom; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Elizabeth House, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge CB21 5EF, United Kingdom
| | - Michael V Lombardo
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, 18B Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 8AH, United Kingdom; Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, CY 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Roger J Tait
- Brain Mapping Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Herchel Smith Building, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SP, United Kingdom; Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - John Suckling
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Elizabeth House, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge CB21 5EF, United Kingdom; Brain Mapping Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Herchel Smith Building, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SP, United Kingdom; Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
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9
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Jung RE, Mead BS, Carrasco J, Flores RA. The structure of creative cognition in the human brain. Front Hum Neurosci 2013; 7:330. [PMID: 23847503 PMCID: PMC3703539 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2013] [Accepted: 06/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Creativity is a vast construct, seemingly intractable to scientific inquiry-perhaps due to the vague concepts applied to the field of research. One attempt to limit the purview of creative cognition formulates the construct in terms of evolutionary constraints, namely that of blind variation and selective retention (BVSR). Behaviorally, one can limit the "blind variation" component to idea generation tests as manifested by measures of divergent thinking. The "selective retention" component can be represented by measures of convergent thinking, as represented by measures of remote associates. We summarize results from measures of creative cognition, correlated with structural neuroimaging measures including structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). We also review lesion studies, considered to be the "gold standard" of brain-behavioral studies. What emerges is a picture consistent with theories of disinhibitory brain features subserving creative cognition, as described previously (Martindale, 1981). We provide a perspective, involving aspects of the default mode network (DMN), which might provide a "first approximation" regarding how creative cognition might map on to the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rex E. Jung
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM, USA
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10
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Killgore WDS, Schwab ZJ. Sex differences in the association between physical exercise and IQ. Percept Mot Skills 2013; 115:605-17. [PMID: 23265022 DOI: 10.2466/06.10.50.pms.115.5.605-617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Previous research suggests that physical exercise may have beneficial effects on cognitive performance in children and the elderly, but little research has yet examined these associations in healthy adults. It was hypothesized that self-reported frequency and duration of physical exercise would correlate positively with measured intelligence on the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence in healthy young to middle aged adults (25 men, 28 women). Although there was a modest positive association between physical exercise and intelligence (IQ) for the group as a whole, when examined separately by sex, greater physical activity was associated with higher intelligence scores for women, whereas exercise level was essentially unrelated to intelligence among men. These associations remained consistent even after controlling for demographic and socioeconomic factors. The association between exercise and IQ appears to be moderated by sex in healthy adults, possibly through its effects on glucoregulation, insulin sensitivity, or other factors that differ between men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- William D S Killgore
- William D. "Scott" Killgore, Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA.
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11
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Abstract
This article discusses recent findings on the neurobiology of pediatric depression as well as the interplay between genetic and environmental factors in determining the risk for the disorder. Utilizing data from both animal and human studies, the authors focus on the evolving understanding of the developmental neurobiology of emotional regulation, cognitive function and social behavior as it applies to the risk and clinical course of depression. Treatment implications and directions for future research are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M. Weir
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Meharry Medical College, Nashville Tennessee
| | - Arthurine Zakama
- Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville Tennessee
| | - Uma Rao
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Meharry Medical College, Nashville Tennessee
- Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville Tennessee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Meharry Medical College, Nashville Tennessee
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12
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Crespo-Facorro B, Roiz-Santiáñez R, Pérez-Iglesias R, Mata I, Rodríguez-Sánchez JM, Tordesillas-Gutiérrez D, de la Foz VOG, Tabarés-Seisdedos R, Sánchez E, Andreasen N, Magnotta V, Vázquez-Barquero JL. Sex-specific variation of MRI-based cortical morphometry in adult healthy volunteers: the effect on cognitive functioning. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2011; 35:616-23. [PMID: 21237230 PMCID: PMC3880827 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2011.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2010] [Revised: 12/17/2010] [Accepted: 01/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Previous investigations have revealed sex-specific differences in brain morphometry. The effect of sex on cortical thickness may be influencing cognitive differences between sexes. With this exploratory study, we aimed to investigate the effect of sex in MRI-based cerebral cortex morphometry in healthy young volunteers and how the variability in cortical measures might affect cognitive functioning in men and women. 76 young healthy volunteers (45 men and 31 women) underwent a 1.5 T MR scan and 53 of them completed a comprehensive cognitive battery. Overall no gross significant differences between sexes were found in cortical thickness, surface area and curvature indexes. However, there was a significant group by hemisphere interaction in the total cortical thickness (F(1,72)=5.02; p=0.03). A greater leftward asymmetry was observed in cortical thickness in males. Only females show significant associations between cortical thickness and cognitive functioning (IQ and executive functioning). In conclusion, our findings do not support the notion of sexual dimorphism in cortical mantle morphology. The results also suggest that variability in cortical thickness may affect cognitive functioning in females but not in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedicto Crespo-Facorro
- University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, CIBERSAM, IFIMAV, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
| | - Roberto Roiz-Santiáñez
- University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, CIBERSAM, IFIMAV, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Rocío Pérez-Iglesias
- University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, CIBERSAM, IFIMAV, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Ignacio Mata
- University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, CIBERSAM, IFIMAV, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Jose Manuel Rodríguez-Sánchez
- University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, CIBERSAM, IFIMAV, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Diana Tordesillas-Gutiérrez
- University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, CIBERSAM, IFIMAV, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Victor Ortíz-García de la Foz
- University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, CIBERSAM, IFIMAV, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Rafael Tabarés-Seisdedos
- Teaching Unit of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, CIBERSAM, Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Elena Sánchez
- University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Department of Neuroradiology, Santander, Spain
| | - Nancy Andreasen
- Department of Psychiatry, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - Vicent Magnotta
- Department of Psychiatry, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA,Department of Radiology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA,Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
| | - José Luis Vázquez-Barquero
- University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, CIBERSAM, IFIMAV, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
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13
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Lopez-Larson MP, Bogorodzki P, Rogowska J, McGlade E, King JB, Terry J, Yurgelun-Todd D. Altered prefrontal and insular cortical thickness in adolescent marijuana users. Behav Brain Res 2011; 220:164-72. [PMID: 21310189 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2010] [Revised: 01/27/2011] [Accepted: 02/01/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There are limited data regarding the impact of marijuana (MJ) on cortical development during adolescence. Adolescence is a period of substantial brain maturation and cortical thickness abnormalities may be indicative of disruptions of normal cortical development. This investigation applied cortical-surface based techniques to compare cortical thickness measures in MJ using adolescents compared to non-using controls. METHODS Eighteen adolescents with heavy MJ use and 18 non-using controls similar in age received MRI scans using a 3T Siemens scanner. Cortical reconstruction and volumetric segmentation was performed with FreeSurfer. Group differences in cortical thickness were assessed using statistical difference maps covarying for age and gender. RESULTS Compared to non-users, MJ users had decreased cortical thickness in right caudal middle frontal, bilateral insula and bilateral superior frontal cortices. Marijuana users had increased cortical thickness in the bilateral lingual, right superior temporal, right inferior parietal and left paracentral regions. In the MJ users, negative correlations were found between frontal and lingual regions for urinary cannabinoid levels and between age of onset of use and the right superior frontal gyrus. CONCLUSION This is one of the first studies to evaluate cortical thickness in a group of adolescents with heavy MJ use compared to non-users. Our findings are consistent with prior studies that documented abnormalities in prefrontal and insular regions. Our results suggest that age of regular use may be associated with altered prefrontal cortical gray matter development in adolescents. Furthermore, reduced insular cortical thickness may be a biological marker for increased risk of substance dependence.
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Silveri MM, Rogowska J, McCaffrey A, Yurgelun-Todd DA. Adolescents at risk for alcohol abuse demonstrate altered frontal lobe activation during Stroop performance. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2010; 35:218-28. [PMID: 21073483 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2010.01337.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children and adolescents, family history positive (FH+) for alcoholism, exhibit differences in brain structure and functional activation when compared to family history negative (FH-) counterparts. Given that frontal brain regions, and associated reciprocal connections with limbic structures, undergo the most dramatic maturational changes during adolescence, the objective of this study was to compare functional brain activation during a frontally mediated test of response inhibition in 32 adolescents separated into low-risk (FH-) and high-risk (FH+) groups. METHODS Functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) blood oxygen level-dependent data were acquired at 1.5 Tesla during performance of Stroop Color Naming, Word Reading, and Interference. Preprocessing and statistical analyses, covaried for age, were conducted in SPM99 using a search territory that included superior, middle, and inferior frontal gyri (trigone region), anterior cingulate gyrus (CG), and left and right amygdala. RESULTS Significantly greater activation in the fronto-limbic search territory was observed in FH+ relative to FH- subjects during Stroop Interference. In addition, a significant regression between brain activation and family history density was observed, with a greater density being associated with increased activation in regions including middle frontal gyrus (BA9) and CG (BA24). CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate a significant influence of FH status on brain activation during the performance of a response inhibition task, perhaps reflecting a neurobiological vulnerability associated with FH status that may include reduced neuronal efficiency and/or recruitment of additional neuronal resources. These findings are important given that the adolescent developmental period is already associated with reduced inhibitory capacity, even prior to the onset of alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa M Silveri
- Brain Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts 02478, USA.
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15
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Killgore WDS, Muckle AE, Grugle NL, Killgore DB, Balkin TJ. Sex Differences in Cognitive Estimation During Sleep Deprivation: Effects of Stimulant Countermeasures. Int J Neurosci 2009; 118:1547-57. [DOI: 10.1080/00207450802323970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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16
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Burnett S, Blakemore SJ. Functional connectivity during a social emotion task in adolescents and in adults. Eur J Neurosci 2009; 29:1294-301. [PMID: 19302165 PMCID: PMC2695858 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.06674.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In this fMRI study we investigated functional connectivity between components of the mentalising system during a social emotion task, using psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis. Ten adults (22–32 years) and 18 adolescents (11–18 years) were scanned while thinking about scenarios in which a social or a basic emotion would be experienced. Unlike basic emotions (such as disgust and fear), social emotions (such as embarrassment and guilt) require the representation of another’s mental states. In both adults and adolescents, an anterior rostral region of medial prefrontal cortex (arMPFC) involved in mentalising showed greater connectivity with the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) bordering on the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) and with anterior temporal cortex (ATC) during social than during basic emotion. This result provides novel evidence that components of the mentalising system interact functionally during a social emotion task. Furthermore, functional connectivity differed between adolescence and adulthood. The adolescent group showed stronger connectivity between arMPFC and pSTS/TPJ during social relative to basic emotion than did the adult group, suggestive of developmental changes in functional integration within the mentalising system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Burnett
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK.
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17
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Amygdala Volume and Verbal Memory Performance in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. Cogn Behav Neurol 2009; 22:28-37. [DOI: 10.1097/wnn.0b013e318192cc67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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18
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Dorfberger S, Adi-Japha E, Karni A. Sex differences in motor performance and motor learning in children and adolescents: an increasing male advantage in motor learning and consolidation phase gains. Behav Brain Res 2008; 198:165-71. [PMID: 19026692 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2008.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2008] [Revised: 10/20/2008] [Accepted: 10/27/2008] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
We investigated gender differences in motor performance in 9-, 12-, and 17-year-olds. The tasks included simple thumb tapping (sTT), handwriting (HW) and finger-to-thumb opposition sequence (FOS) learning. In sTT there was a significant advantage for the 17-year-old males. In HW, 12-year-old females were faster, initially, than the males, but this gap was closed by a single training session; in the 17-year-olds although no significant difference was found initially, the males became faster than the age-matched females post-training. In the FOS, there were no initial gender differences (speed or accuracy). However, males benefited more from training, with the 17-year-old males attaining a significant post-training speed advantage. Moreover, males, of all three age-groups, evolved significantly larger delayed ("off-line") performance gains in the FOS task compared to females; gains which were retained 6-weeks post-training. There may be a male advantage in motor learning rather than in motor performance per-se; this advantage is enhanced during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoshi Dorfberger
- The Laboratory for Functional Brain Imaging & Learning Research, The Brain Behavior Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa 31905, Israel
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19
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Silveri MM, Tzilos GK, Yurgelun-Todd DA. Relationship between white matter volume and cognitive performance during adolescence: effects of age, sex and risk for drug use. Addiction 2008; 103:1509-20. [PMID: 18636995 PMCID: PMC4454456 DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02272.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AIM Familial drug abuse history has been shown to have an impact on cognitive development during adolescence. The present study examined the relationship between white matter volume and cognitive processing speed in adolescents with and without a familial substance abuse history. PARTICIPANTS The sample comprised 33 female and male adolescents stratified by risk (family history positive, FH+) and low-risk (FH-) groups. MEASUREMENTS Gray and white matter volumes were measured by segmenting magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. The neurocognitive test battery included tests that assessed processing speed, verbal ability and mental flexibility. FINDINGS Age-related differences in neuropsychological functioning were seen but did not differ by risk group status, although there was some evidence for an age x gender effect. Information processing speed (digit symbol and Stroop word color naming) was correlated significantly with white matter volume; however, this pattern was observed only in FH- females. Cognitive performance and tissue volumes did not differ significantly between risk groups. CONCLUSIONS Age-related differences in neuropsychological functioning were seen that might, in larger samples, prove to be related to risk for substance abuse in adolescents who have not yet initiated drug use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa M. Silveri
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brain Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard University Medical School, Boston, MA,Corresponding Author: Marisa M. Silveri, Ph.D., Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brain Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St. Belmont, MA 02478, Office: 617-855-2920, FAX: 617-855-3713,
| | - Golfo K. Tzilos
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
| | - Deborah A. Yurgelun-Todd
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brain Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard University Medical School, Boston, MA
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20
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Fornari E, Knyazeva MG, Meuli R, Maeder P. Myelination shapes functional activity in the developing brain. Neuroimage 2007; 38:511-8. [PMID: 17889561 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2007] [Revised: 06/25/2007] [Accepted: 07/03/2007] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, the function of spatial integration (SI) develops slowly, continuing through childhood into adolescence. To reveal its neural substrate in children and to examine the role of myelination in shaping SI-dependent functional activity, we applied a combined fMRI/MTI technique capable of tracking functional (BOLD response) and morphological (myelination) signs of maturation. Fourteen children (age 7-13) were scanned while viewing bilateral gratings, which either obeyed Gestalt grouping rules or violated them. A contrast between these stimuli revealed the BOLD response presumably induced by interhemispheric SI. It was limited to a small ventral stream territory in the lingual gyrus that corresponds to the VP part of the SI-induced activation found in adults in VP/V4 areas. The BOLD response correlated with myelination of splenial fibers. The data suggest that the activation of the extrastriate areas that enable an SI function depends on the maturation of long-range cortico-cortical connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Fornari
- Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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21
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Yurgelun-Todd D. Emotional and cognitive changes during adolescence. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2007; 17:251-7. [PMID: 17383865 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2007.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 386] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2007] [Accepted: 03/14/2007] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Adolescence is a critical period for maturation of neurobiological processes that underlie higher cognitive functions and social and emotional behavior. Recent studies have applied new advances in magnetic resonance imaging to increase understanding of the neurobiological changes that occur during the transition from childhood to early adulthood. Structural imaging data indicate progressive and regressive changes in the relative volumes of specific brain regions, although total brain volume is not significantly altered. The prefrontal cortex matures later than other regions and its development is paralleled by increased abilities in abstract reasoning, attentional shifting, response inhibition and processing speed. Changes in emotional capacity, including improvements in affective modulation and discrimination of emotional cues, are also seen during adolescence. Functional imaging studies using cognitive and affective challenges have shown that frontal cortical networks undergo developmental changes in processing. In summary, brain regions that underlie attention, reward evaluation, affective discrimination, response inhibition and goal-directed behavior undergo structural and functional re-organization throughout late childhood and early adulthood. Evidence from recent imaging studies supports a model by which the frontal cortex adopts an increasingly regulatory role. These neurobiological changes are believed to contribute, in part, to the range in cognitive and affective behavior seen during adolescence.
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22
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Silveri MM, Rohan ML, Pimentel PJ, Gruber SA, Rosso IM, Yurgelun-Todd DA. Sex differences in the relationship between white matter microstructure and impulsivity in adolescents. Magn Reson Imaging 2006; 24:833-41. [PMID: 16916700 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2006.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2006] [Accepted: 03/30/2006] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Rapid maturational brain changes occur during adolescence--a time associated with risk-taking behaviors and improvements in cognition. The present study examined the relationship between white matter (WM) microstructure, impulsive behavior and response inhibition in female and male adolescents. Twenty-one healthy adolescents underwent diffusion tensor imaging using a 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging system. Impulse control was assessed using the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory, Youth Version. Response inhibition was assessed using the Stroop Color-Word Interference Test. Fractional anisotropy (FA), a measure of WM coherence, and trace, a measure of overall diffusivity, were determined from voxels manually placed in the midline and in the left and right forward-projecting arms of the genu and the splenium of the corpus callosum. Sex-specific differences were observed for the relationship between FA and impulsive behavior in the right anterior callosum for males and in the splenium for females. Males, compared to females, displayed significantly higher FA in the left WM region. Although trace was not associated with impulse control, trace in the genu (for females) and splenium (males and females) was associated with Stroop performance. Regional differences in trace also were evident, with lower values in the splenium observed than in all other regions. Although the latter significantly improved with age, no sex differences in impulse control or in Stroop performance were detected. The present findings provide supporting evidence for sex-related differences in the development of WM microstructure during adolescence. These data further suggest a neurobiological mechanism underlying some of the emotional and cognitive changes commonly observed in males versus females during the adolescent period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa M Silveri
- Cognitive Neuroimaging and Neuropsychology Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA.
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23
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Killgore WDS, Yurgelun-Todd DA. Developmental changes in the functional brain responses of adolescents to images of high and low-calorie foods. Dev Psychobiol 2005; 47:377-97. [PMID: 16284969 DOI: 10.1002/dev.20099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
We examined cerebral responses to visually presented food images in children and adolescents. Eight healthy normal-weight females (ages 9-15) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while viewing photographs of high- and low-calorie foods and dining utensils. In general, food images yielded significant activation within the inferior orbitofrontal cortex, hippocampus, and fusiform gyri. High calorie food images activated the left hippocampus and subgenual cingulate, and age correlated positively with activity within the orbitofrontal cortex but negatively with activity within the anterior cingulate gyrus. Low-calorie foods activated the fusiform gyrus and demonstrated age-related increases in the left superior temporal gyrus and anterior cingulate. Utensils activated the fusiform gyrus and showed age-related increases in the prefrontal cortex. Data were also compared statistically to a sample of adults exposed to the same stimulus conditions. Findings support a developmental model of adolescent maturation whereby age-related changes in cerebral functioning develop from lower-order sensory processing toward higher-order processing of stimuli via prefrontal cortical systems involved in reward anticipation, self-monitoring, and behavioral inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- William D S Killgore
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
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24
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Abstract
Myelination of the brain continues through childhood into adolescence and early adulthood--the question is, Why? Two new articles provide intriguing evidence that myelination may be an underappreciated mechanism of activity-dependent nervous system plasticity: one study reported increased myelination associated with extensive piano playing, another indicated that rats have increased myelination of the corpus callosum when raised in environments providing increased social interaction and cognitive stimulation. These articles make it clear that activity-dependent effects on myelination cannot be considered strictly a developmental event. They raise the question of whether myelination is an overlooked mechanism of activity-dependent plasticity, extending in humans until at least age 30. It has been argued that regulating the speed of conduction across long fiber tracts would have a major influence on synaptic response, by coordinating the timing of afferent input to maximize temporal summation. The increase in synaptic amplitude could be as large as neurotransmitter-based mechanisms of plasticity, such as LTP. These new findings raise a larger question: How did the oligodendrocytes know they were practicing the piano or that their environment was socially complex?
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Affiliation(s)
- R Douglas Fields
- Nervous System Development and Plasticity Section, NICHD, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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25
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Winterer G, Hariri AR, Goldman D, Weinberger DR. Neuroimaging and Human Genetics. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2005; 67:325-83. [PMID: 16291027 DOI: 10.1016/s0074-7742(05)67010-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Georg Winterer
- Genes, Cognition and Psychosis Program, National Institute of Mental Health National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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26
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Silveri MM, Tzilos GK, Pimentel PJ, Yurgelun-Todd DA. Trajectories of adolescent emotional and cognitive development: effects of sex and risk for drug use. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2004; 1021:363-70. [PMID: 15251911 DOI: 10.1196/annals.1308.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Adolescence has been widely accepted as a time for notable alterations in brain functioning. The objective of this longitudinal study was to compare trajectories of emotional and cognitive development in adolescent girls and boys with low- versus high-risk for future drug use. Nineteen healthy adolescents (aged 13.9 +/- 2.0 years; 10 girls), stratified into low- and high-risk groups based on family history of drug abuse, were examined at baseline and after one year. Emotional intelligence was assessed using the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory, the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, and the Perceived Stress Scale. The neurocognitive test battery was designed to evaluate academic achievement, executive function, verbal memory and learning, and included the Wide Range Achievement Test, Stroop Color-Word Interference Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and Digit Span and Digit Symbol subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised. Improvements in academic achievement, executive function, and working memory were observed at the one-year follow-up. Notable sex differences also were evident in emotional intelligence, academic achievement, and memory. Interestingly, these sex-related differences interacted with risk status; improvement in cognitive performance in boys and low-risk girls was generally superior to high-risk girls, who tended to show modest, if any, improvement at the one-year follow-up. These preliminary findings provide evidence of sex differences in emotion intelligence and cognitive function. Furthermore, these data also suggest that history of familial drug abuse may have a more pronounced impact on emotional and cognitive development in adolescent girls than boys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa M Silveri
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brain Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA.
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27
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Overman WH, Frassrand K, Ansel S, Trawalter S, Bies B, Redmond A. Performance on the IOWA card task by adolescents and adults. Neuropsychologia 2004; 42:1838-51. [PMID: 15351632 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2004.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2003] [Revised: 01/04/2004] [Accepted: 03/12/2004] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Performance on the Iowa Card Task (ICT) is impaired in several populations that demonstrate poor decision-making and risk-taking including patients with damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. For some individuals, adolescence is a period of poor decision-making and risk-taking. Adolescence is also a period of neuroanatomic and neurochemical remodeling. There is evidence that neuropsychological functions of the prefrontal cortex change during adolescence; however, decision-making, as measured by the ICT, has not been systematically studied in adolescents over the age of 14 years. In the present study, 60 participants (30 female) in each of grades 6-12, and 60 young adults were administered the Iowa Card Task, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST), a survey of impulsivity and excitement-seeking, and a quantity-frequency index of substance use. Results showed significant and steady improvement on the Iowa Card Task from the 6th grade to adulthood. Performance on the Iowa Card Task was not correlated with measures of impulsivity, excitement-seeking or reported individual substance use. There was one indication that poly-substance use was negatively correlated with performance on the ICT. Performance on the WCST was not significantly correlated with performance on the Iowa Card Task or any other measure. Across age, males and females had a different response pattern on the ICT. Females tended to choose cards associated with both immediate wins and with long-term outcome. Males tended to choose on the basis of long-term outcome. Results are discussed in terms of adolescent brain development and decision-making differences between males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Overman
- Psychology Department, University of North Carolina, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28401, USA.
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