title: Thalamocortical Connectivity Predicts Cognition in Children Born Preterm.
abstract: Thalamocortical connections are: essential for brain function, established early in development, and significantly impaired following preterm birth. Impaired cognitive abilities in preterm infants may be related to disruptions in thalamocortical connectivity. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis: thalamocortical connectivity in the preterm brain at term-equivalent is correlated with cognitive performance in early childhood. We examined 57 infants who were born <35 weeks gestational age (GA) and had no evidence of focal abnormality on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Infants underwent diffusion MRI at term and cognitive performance at 2 years was assessed using the Bayley III scales of Infant and Toddler development. Cognitive scores at 2 years were correlated with structural connectivity between the thalamus and extensive cortical regions at term. Mean thalamocortical connectivity across the whole cortex explained 11% of the variance in cognitive scores at 2 years. The inclusion of GA at birth and parental socioeconomic group in the model explained 30% of the variance in subsequent cognitive performance. Identifying impairments in thalamocortical connectivity as early as term equivalent can help identify those infants at risk of subsequent cognitive delay and may be useful to assess efficacy of potential treatments at an early age.
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Developing Brain, Division of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, SE1 7EH, UK.
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, W12 0HS, UK.
authors.forename: Libuse
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pazderova
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Developing Brain, Division of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, SE1 7EH, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Developing Brain, Division of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, SE1 7EH, UK.
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tusor
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Developing Brain, Division of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, SE1 7EH, UK.
authors.forename: Nazakat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Merchant
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Developing Brain, Division of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, SE1 7EH, UK.
authors.forename: Tomoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arichi
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Developing Brain, Division of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, SE1 7EH, UK.
authors.forename: Joanna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Allsop
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, W12 0HS, UK.
authors.forename: Frances M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Developing Brain, Division of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, SE1 7EH, UK.
authors.forename: A David
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Developing Brain, Division of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, SE1 7EH, UK.
authors.forename: Serena J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Counsell
mesh_terms: D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000473:pathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: brain; cognition; diffusion magnetic resonance imaging; infant; preterm