Altered Amygdala Development and Fear Processing in Prematurely Born Infants.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Prematurely born children have a high risk of developmental and behavioral disabilities. Cerebral abnormalities at term age have been clearly linked with later behavior alterations, but existing studies did not focus on the amygdala. Moreover, studies of early amygdala development after premature birth in humans are scarce.

Objective

To compare amygdala volumes in very preterm infants at term equivalent age (TEA) and term born infants, and to relate premature infants' amygdala volumes with their performance on the Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery (Lab-TAB) fear episode at 12 months.

Participants

Eighty one infants born between 2008 and 2014 at the University Hospitals of Geneva and Lausanne, taking part in longitudinal and functional imaging studies,

SUBMITTER: Cismaru AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4870280 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature