title: Altered cortical thickness following prenatal sodium valproate exposure.
abstract: Prenatal exposure to sodium valproate (VPA) is associated with neurodevelopmental impairments. Cortical thickness was measured in 16 children exposed prenatally to VPA and 16 controls. We found increased left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG; BA45) and left pericalcarine sulcus (BA18) thickness, an association between VPA dose and right IFG thickness, and a close relationship between verbal skills and left IFG thickness. A significant interaction between group and hemispheric IFG thickness showed absence of the normal asymmetry in the IFG region of VPA-exposed children. These data provide preliminary insights into the putative neural basis of difficulties experienced by some VPA-exposed children.
authors.affiliation: University of Birmingham Birmingham, United Kingdom ; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Parkville, Australia ; Monash University Clayton, Australia.
authors.forename: Amanda G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Parkville, Australia ; Monash University Clayton, Australia.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nadebaum
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Parkville, Australia ; Royal Children's Hospital Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Vicki A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catroppa
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland St Lucia, Australia.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Reutens
authors.affiliation: The University of Melbourne Parkville, Australia ; Royal Melbourne Hospital Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Terence J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: The University of Melbourne Parkville, Australia ; Australian Pregnancy Register for Women with Epilepsy and Allied Conditions Kew, Australia.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vajda