White matter abnormalities and executive function in children with very low birth weight

• Published in: Neuroreport Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 263 - 266
• Main Authors: Skranes, Jon, Lohaugen, Gro C, Martinussen, Marit, Indredavik, Marit S, Dale, Anders M, Haraldseth, Olav, Vangberg, Torgil R, Brubakk, Ann-Mari
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc 18-02-2009; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anisotropy; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Mapping; Cerebral Cortex - abnormalities; Cerebral Cortex - pathology; Cerebral Cortex - physiopathology; Cognition Disorders - etiology; Cognition Disorders - pathology; Cognition Disorders - physiopathology; Cohort Studies; Developmental Disabilities - etiology; Developmental Disabilities - pathology; Developmental Disabilities - physiopathology; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Frontal Lobe - abnormalities; Frontal Lobe - pathology; Frontal Lobe - physiopathology; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight - growth & development; Male; Medical sciences; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated - pathology; Nervous System Malformations - etiology; Nervous System Malformations - pathology; Nervous System Malformations - physiopathology; Neural Pathways - abnormalities; Neural Pathways - pathology; Neural Pathways - physiopathology; Neuropsychological Tests; Occipital Lobe - abnormalities; Occipital Lobe - pathology; Occipital Lobe - physiopathology; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Regression Analysis; Human; Executive function; Pregnancy disorders; Central nervous system; Low birth weight; Neuropsychological test; very low birth weight; Psychometrics; Cognition; brain; White matter; Encephalon; Diffusion tensor imaging; Newborn diseases; Prematurity; Wisconsin Card Sorting Test; Child
• ISSN: 0959-4965; 1473-558X
• DOI: 10.1097/WNR.0b013e32832027fe

The aim of this study was to investigate any structural–functional relationship between changes in white matter microstructure seen on diffusion tensor imaging and results of an executive function test in adolescents with very low birth weight (VLBW). Thirty-four VLBW adolescents were examined at 15 years of age. Executive function was assessed by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Diffusion tensor imaging scans were performed at 1.5 T for calculation of individual fractional anisotropy maps. Through a voxel-wise regression analysis, correlations were found between the results on Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and fractional anisotropy values in the left cingulum and both inferior fronto-occipital fascicles. We speculate that impairments in executive function in VLBW children may be influenced by disturbed connectivity between posterior brain regions and the prefrontal cortex.