Age-related changes in prefrontal white matter volume across adolescence.
Past research has suggested that white matter volume increases from childhood to adulthood; however, during adolescence, there is somewhat limited data to support this finding. In the present study, 65 typically developing adolescents underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging. Using magnetic resonance imaging, prefrontal white matter volumes were examined in relation to adolescent age and sex. Surprisingly, results suggested that prefrontal white matter volume decreased during late adolescence, particularly among the female sex. These findings are inconsistent with past research and suggest that perhaps some developmental processes in late adolescence are not yet fully explained. Possible methodological contributions and implications for the current findings are discussed.
Nagel
Bonnie J
BJ
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA. nagelb@ohsu.edu
Medina
Krista Lisdahl
KL
Yoshii
June
J
Schweinsburg
Alecia D
AD
Moadab
Ida
I
Tapert
Susan F
SF
D000293:Adolescent / Q000502:physiology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*