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Abstract #0890

Maturation of the Structural Connectome: A Network-Driven Approach

Olga Tymofiyeva1, Christopher P. Hess1, Etay Ziv1, Patricia N. Lee1, Hannah C. Glass2, 3, Donna M. Ferriero3, A James Barkovich1, Duan Xu1

1Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, United States; 2Department of Neurology, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, United States; 3Department of Pediatrics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, United States

In this study, we applied an automated template-free "baby connectome" framework using diffusion MRI to examine the maturational changes of the structural brain networks in subjects of different ages, including premature neonates, term-born neonates, six-month-old infants, and adults. We observed increasing brain network integration and decreasing segregation with age in term-born subjects, consistent with previous findings in the late developing human brain. We also explored how the equal area nodes can be grouped into modules without any prior anatomical information an important step toward a fully network-driven registration and analysis of brain connectivity.

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Keywords

able adult adults ages anatomical anatomy applied approaches assess assessed assurance atlas atlases babies baby become biomedical birth born brain challenges char characteristic chosen clinical commonly community connectivity consistent cortex cortical decreasing detection determined determining deterministic developing development diffusion driven early emerging emphasized employed employing encephalopathy equal evidence examine examples extend fiber field findings five flexible framework free fully function gestational glass grants growing healthy human identify important improved include included increasing infants injury integration late latter least length mapping match maturation maturational mature maximized maximizing measure might modularity modules month months neonates network networks neurology newborn newly nodes olds optimal partitioning path pattern pediatrics poses premature prematurely previous prior quality radiology rapidly registration relatively represent scaled scanned scanner segmentation segregation selectively seven since slice span spectral spectrum sphere step streamline structural subject subjects suits supported surface template templates term toolbox toward transient understanding weeks white wired years younger