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. 2006 Sep;27(9):766-77.
doi: 10.1002/hbm.20218.

Anatomical changes in the emerging adult brain: a voxel-based morphometry study

Craig M Bennett  1 , Abigail A Baird
Affiliations

Anatomical changes in the emerging adult brain: a voxel-based morphometry study

Craig M Bennett et al. Hum Brain Mapp. 2006 Sep.

Abstract

Research has consistently confirmed changes occur in brain morphometry between adolescence and adulthood. The purpose of the present study was to explore anatomical change during a specific environmental transition. High-resolution T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were acquired from 19 participants (mean age at initial scan = 18.6 years) during their freshman year. Scans were completed during the fall term and 6 months later before the conclusion of the school year. Voxel-based morphometry was used to assess within-subject change. Significant intensity increases were observed along the right midcingulate, inferior anterior cingulate gyrus, right caudate head, right posterior insula, and bilateral claustrum. Regional changes were not observed in two control groups; one controlling for method and another controlling for age-specific change over time. The results suggest that significant age-related changes in brain structure continue after the age of 18 and may represent dynamic changes related to new environmental challenges. Findings from the regions of change are discussed in the context of specific environmental demands during a period of normative maturation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Image preprocessing workflow. This is an overview of the steps necessary to prepare a pair of images for statistical analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Images of statistically significant (P > 0.00001, 50 voxel extent) voxel intensity increases. Depicted in this image are areas of change in the right dorsal midcingulate (a), inferior anterior cingulate gyrus (b), right posterior insula and bilateral claustrum (c), caudate head (d), and right claustrum (e). All areas are overlaid on an average brain.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Glass brain renderings showing statistically significant (P > 0.00001, 50 voxel extent) voxel intensity increases. The extent (a) of each area and the location of peak change for each individual (b) are both shown in a sagittal projection. The areas are color coded, with blue indicating midcingulate areas, yellow being inferior anterior cingulate gyrus, red indicating caudate head, and orange showing posterior insula and claustral areas.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Enlarged coronal image (y = −13) focusing on midcingulate areas of change. Important to note is the location of these regions, largely on the gray/white matter border.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Scatterplot of mean voxel intensity values for each region across time. Mean intensity of gray and white matter across the whole brain at the Ttwo time point are represented as vertical dashed lines. Circles (fall) represent Tone values and squares (spring) represent Ttwo values. The areas are color coded, with blue indicating midcingulate areas, red indicating caudate head, and orange showing posterior insula and claustral areas.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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