title: Development of brain networks and relevance of environmental and genetic factors: A systematic review.
abstract: This study conducted a systematic review to synthesize findings on the development of functional and structural brain networks from the prenatal to late adolescent period. In addition, evidence for environmental and genetic influences on the development of brain networks was reviewed. Ninety two studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Diffusion MRI findings indicated that clustering decreases, local and global efficiency increase and modularity stabilizes or decreases with age. Structural covariance findings indicated that local efficiency, global efficiency and modularity, may stabilize in adolescence. Findings for resting-state functional MRI were mixed. Few studies have investigated genetic or environmental influences on development of structural or functional networks. For functional networks, genetic effects have been reported with few significant environmental factors. While no studies of this nature were found for structural networks, other research has provided evidence of age-related changes in heritability of white matter volume, fractional anisotropy, and cortical thickness. Further research is required to understand the development of brain networks and the relevance of environmental and genetic factors.
authors: Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
authors: Sally
authors: S
authors: Richmond
authors: Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
authors: Katherine A
authors: KA
authors: Johnson
authors: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Australia; Department for Pediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
authors: Marc L
authors: ML
authors: Seal
authors: Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA.
authors: Nicholas B
authors: NB
authors: Allen
authors: Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: swhittle@unimelb.edu.au.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Whittle
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain; D001931:Brain Mapping; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging
keywords: Brain networks; Connectivity; Development; Environment; Genetics; Neuroimaging