Brain development in preterm infants assessed using advanced MRI techniques

Clin Perinatol. 2014 Mar;41(1):25-45. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2013.10.001. Epub 2013 Dec 12.

Abstract

Infants who are born preterm have a high incidence of neurocognitive and neurobehavioral abnormalities, which may be associated with impaired brain development. Advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approaches, such as diffusion MRI (d-MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI), provide objective and reproducible measures of brain development. Indices derived from d-MRI can be used to provide quantitative measures of preterm brain injury. Although fMRI of the neonatal brain is currently a research tool, future studies combining d-MRI and fMRI have the potential to assess the structural and functional properties of the developing brain and its response to injury.

Keywords: Brain; Diffusion-MRI; Functional MRI; MRI; Preterm.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / growth & development
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Brain Injuries / pathology*
  • Brain Injuries / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / growth & development
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging / methods
  • Functional Neuroimaging / methods
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Neural Pathways / growth & development
  • Neural Pathways / pathology*
  • Neural Pathways / physiopathology
  • Thalamus / growth & development
  • Thalamus / pathology
  • Thalamus / physiopathology