Brain connectivity in normally developing children and adolescents

The developing human brain undergoes an astonishing sequence of events that continuously shape the structural and functional brain connectivity. Distinct regional variations in the timelines of maturational events (synaptogenesis and synaptic pruning) occurring at the synaptic level are reflected in brain measures at macroscopic resolution (cortical thickness and gray matter density).

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Neuroimage. 2016 Jul 1;134:192-203. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.03.062. Epub 2016 Apr 4.

Khundrakpam BS1, Lewis JD2, Zhao L2, Chouinard-Decorte F2, Evans AC2.

Author information

  1. McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada. Electronic address: budha@bic.mni.mcgill.ca.
  2. McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.

Abstract

 

Global and regional changes in gray and white matter (GM, WM) during normal development. A. Age-related changes in total GM and WM volumes (adapted from (Giedd et al., 1999)) showing inverted U-shaped and linear trajectories, respectively. B. Regional GM density vs age (taken from (Sowell et al., 2003)) displaying differential developmental trajectories. C. Regional WM volumes vs age (adapted from (Brain Development Cooperative, G., 2012)). Note the colors: blue for males and red for females.

The developing human brain undergoes an astonishing sequence of events that continuously shape the structural and functional brain connectivity. Distinct regional variations in the timelines of maturational events (synaptogenesis and synaptic pruning) occurring at the synaptic level are reflected in brain measures at macroscopic resolution (cortical thickness and gray matter density). Interestingly, the observed brain changes coincide with cognitive milestones suggesting that the changing scaffold of brain circuits may subserve cognitive development. Recent advances in connectivity analysis propelled by graph theory have allowed, on one hand, the investigation of maturational changes in global organization of structural and functional brain networks; and on the other hand, the exploration of specific networks within the context of global brain networks. An emerging picture from several connectivity studies is a system-level rewiring that constantly refines the connectivity of the developing brain.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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