Brain and cognitive-behavioural development after asphyxia at term birth.
Perinatal asphyxia occurs in approximately 1-6 per 1000 live full-term births. Different patterns of brain damage can result, though the relation of these patterns to long-term cognitive-behavioural outcome remains under investigation. The hippocampus is one brain region that can be damaged (typically not in isolation), and this site of damage has been implicated in two different long-term outcomes, cognitive memory impairment and the psychiatric disorder schizophrenia. Factors in addition to the acute episode of asphyxia likely contribute to these specific outcomes, making prediction difficult. Future studies that better document long-term cognitive-behavioural outcome, quantitatively identify patterns of brain injury over development and consider additional variables that may modulate the impact of asphyxia on cognitive and behavioural function will forward the goals of predicting long-term outcome and understanding the mechanisms by which it unfolds.
de Haan
Michelle
M
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, University College London, Institute of Child Health, UK. m.de-haan@ich.ucl.ac.uk
Wyatt
John S
JS
Roth
Simon
S
Vargha-Khadem
Faraneh
F
Gadian
David
D
Mishkin
Mortimer
M
D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D001519:Behavior; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000473:pathology