AUTHOR=Lee Gang Yi , Youn Young-Ah , Jang Yong Hun , Kim Hyuna , Lee Joo Young , Lee Young Jun , Jung Minyoung , Lee Hyun Ju TITLE=Structural development and brain asymmetry in the fronto-limbic regions in preschool-aged children JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics VOLUME=12 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2024.1362409 DOI=10.3389/fped.2024.1362409 ISSN=2296-2360 ABSTRACT=

Early-life experiences play a crucial role in the development of the fronto-limbic regions, influencing both macro- and microstructural changes in the brain. These alterations profoundly impact cognitive, social-emotional functions. Recently, early limbic structural alterations have been associated with numerous neurological and psychiatric morbidities. Although identifying normative developmental trajectories is essential for determining brain alterations, only a few studies have focused on examining the normative trajectories in the fronto-limbic regions during preschool-aged children. The aim of this study was to investigate the structural-developmental trajectory of the fronto-limbic regions using the cortical thickness, volume, and subcortical volume in 57 healthy and typical preschool-aged children between 1 and 5 years and examined the early lateralization patterns during the development of the fronto-limbic regions. Regarding brain lateralization, remarkable asymmetry was detected in the volume of thalamus and the cortical regions excluding the lateral orbitofrontal cortex in the fronto-limbic regions. This study of preschool-aged children may fill the knowledge gaps regarding the developmental patterns and hemispheric asymmetries of the fronto-limbic regions between newborns and adolescents.