Atypical cortical gyrification in adolescents with histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure.
Prenatal alcohol exposure can adversely affect brain development, although little is known about the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on gyrification. Gyrification reflects cortical folding complexity and is a process by which the surface of the brain creates sulci and gyri. Prior studies have shown that prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with reduced gyrification in childhood, but no studies have examined adolescents. Subjects (12-16 years) comprised two age-equivalent groups: 30 adolescents with histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure (AE) and 19 non-exposed controls (CON). A T1-weighted image was obtained for all participants. Local gyrification index (LGI) was estimated using FreeSurfer. General linear models were used to determine between group differences in LGI controlling for age and sex. Age-by-group interactions were also investigated while controlling for sex. The AE group displayed reduced LGI relative to CON in the bilateral superior parietal region, right postcentral region, and left precentral and lateral occipital regions (ps<.001). Significant age-by-group interactions were observed in the right precentral and lateral occipital regions, and in the left pars opercularis and inferior parietal regions (ps<.01). The AE group showed age-related reductions in gyrification in all regions whereas the CON group showed increased gyrification with age in the lateral occipital region only. While cross-sectional, the age-related reduction in gyrification observed in the AE group suggests alterations in cortical development throughout adolescence and provides further insight into the pathophysiology and brain maturation of adolescents prenatally exposed to alcohol.
Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA; San Diego State University / University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120-4913, USA. Electronic address: minfante@mail.sdsu.edu.
M Alejandra
MA
Infante
Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
Eileen M
EM
Moore
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Amanda
A
Bischoff-Grethe
Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA; San Diego State University / University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120-4913, USA.
Robyn
R
Migliorini
Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA; San Diego State University / University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120-4913, USA.
Sarah N
SN
Mattson
Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA; San Diego State University / University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120-4913, USA.
Edward P
EP
Riley
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011247:Pregnancy
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD); Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS); Gyrification; Local gyrification index (LGI); Prenatal alcohol exposure; Structural MRI