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Review
. 2010 Feb;72(1):36-45.
doi: 10.1016/j.bandc.2009.10.009. Epub 2009 Nov 25.

The development of gyrification in childhood and adolescence

Tonya White  1 , Shu Su, Marcus Schmidt, Chiu-Yen Kao, Guillermo Sapiro
Affiliations
Review

The development of gyrification in childhood and adolescence

Tonya White et al. Brain Cogn. 2010 Feb.

Abstract

Gyrification is the process by which the brain undergoes changes in surface morphology to create sulcal and gyral regions. The period of greatest development of brain gyrification is during the third trimester of pregnancy, a period of time in which the brain undergoes considerable growth. Little is known about changes in gyrification during childhood and adolescence, although considering the changes in gray matter volume and thickness during this time period, it is conceivable that alterations in the brain surface morphology could also occur during this period of development. The formation of gyri and sulci in the brain allows for compact wiring that promotes and enhances efficient neural processing. If cerebral function and form are linked through the organization of neural connectivity, then alterations in neural connectivity, i.e., synaptic pruning, may also alter the gyral and sulcal patterns of the brain. This paper reviews developmental theories of gyrification, computational techniques for measuring gyrification, and the potential interaction between gyrification and neuronal connectivity. We also present recent findings involving alterations in gyrification during childhood and adolescence.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Developmental Timeline for Gyrification.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Figure 2a. The Standard Gyrification Index (GI) is a Ratio of the External Brain Surface (Turquoise Line) with the outer Surface excluding the Sulci (Red Line). Figure 2b. Local 3D Gyrification Index (LGI) is the Area Ratio of the Selected Region on the External Brain Surface with the Corresponding Region on the Outer Surface (The Corresponding Regions are Marked as the Same Color)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Figure 2a. The Standard Gyrification Index (GI) is a Ratio of the External Brain Surface (Turquoise Line) with the outer Surface excluding the Sulci (Red Line). Figure 2b. Local 3D Gyrification Index (LGI) is the Area Ratio of the Selected Region on the External Brain Surface with the Corresponding Region on the Outer Surface (The Corresponding Regions are Marked as the Same Color)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Localized Regression Curves Demonstrating Age-Related Differences in Global Gyrification Indices in the Left and Right Hemispheres during Adolescence. Images acquired using SAS (Cary, NC).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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