Mental development is associated with cortical connectivity of the ventral and nonspecific thalamus of preterm newborns.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The thalamus is a key hub for regulating cortical connectivity. Dysmaturation of thalamocortical networks that accompany white matter injury has been hypothesized as neuroanatomical correlate of late life neurocognitive impairment following preterm birth. Our objective was to find a link between thalamocortical connectivity measures at term equivalent age and two-year neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants.

Methods

Diffusion tensor MRI data of 58 preterm infants (postmenstrual age at birth, mean (SD), 29.71 (1.47) weeks) were used in the study. We utilized probabilistic diffusion tractography to trace connections between the cortex and thalami. Possible associations between connectivity strength, the length of the probabilistic fiber pathways, and develop

SUBMITTER: Jakab A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7559616 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature