Prenatal drug exposure to illicit drugs alters working memory-related brain activity and underlying network properties in adolescence.

ABSTRACT: The persistence of effects of prenatal drug exposure (PDE) on brain functioning during adolescence is poorly understood. We explored neural activation to a visuospatial working memory (VSWM) versus a control task using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in adolescents with PDE and a community comparison group (CC) of non-exposed adolescents. We applied graph theory metrics to resting state data using a network of nodes derived from the VSWM task activation map to further explore connectivity underlying WM functioning. Participants (ages 12-15 years) included 47 adolescents (27 PDE and 20 CC). All analyses controlled for potentially confounding differences in birth characteristics and postnatal environment. Significant group by task differences in brain activation emerged in the l

SUBMITTER: Schweitzer JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5712231 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature