Meeting Banner
Abstract #0798

The Effect of Preterm Birth on Cortico-Cortical Connectivity: The Preterm Connectome

Kerstin Pannek1, Xanthy Hatzigeorgiou2, Paul Colditz3, Stephen Rose4

1The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; 2Novita Children's Services, Adelaide, Australia; 3The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; 4The Australian E-Health Research Centre, CSIRO, Brisbane, Australia

Preterm birth is associated with a high prevalence of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome. We used diffusion MRI and T2 relaxometry to assess alterations in cortico-cortical connectivity in the preterm brain at term equivalent age. Cortical networks associated with affected connections mainly involved left frontal and motor cortical areas. Identified cortical regions are associated with higher cognitive function, working memory, language production, verbal comprehension, executive function and motor function, deficits in which are often observed in children and adults born preterm.

Abstract PDF Presentation Video

Keywords

achieved adolescents adults adverse affected alterations altered application assessed assessment atlas audience berg birth born brain careful children clinicians cognitive complementary comprehension connected connection connections connectivity containing content contrast correction correlates cortical deficits density development diffusion distribution equivalent every excluded executive extracted framework frequency frontal function functions gain gestational health hemisphere highlighted human identified identifying incorporation indicate infant infants invasive investigate involved involvement language mainly maps measures measuring memory motor native neonatal neonate network networks neural often ongoing organization orientation orientations outcome pathways pattern preprocessing prevalence previous probabilistic probability probe production reduced registered registration reports required researchers rose sampled services significantly space statistic step streamline streamlines striking structural symmetric target template term track transformation transformed twenty underpinning verbal water weeks whole