Age-related changes in prefrontal white matter volume across adolescence

Past research has suggested that white matter volume increases from childhood to adulthood; however, during adolescence, there is somewhat limited data to support this finding. In the present study, 65 typically developing adolescents underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging. Using magnetic r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNeuroreport Vol. 17; no. 13; p. 1427
Main Authors Nagel, Bonnie J, Medina, Krista Lisdahl, Yoshii, June, Schweinsburg, Alecia D, Moadab, Ida, Tapert, Susan F
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 18.09.2006
Subjects
Adolescent - physiology
Age Factors
Aging - physiology
Brain Mapping
Child
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods
Male
Prefrontal Cortex - anatomy & histology
Prefrontal Cortex - physiology
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Summary:Past research has suggested that white matter volume increases from childhood to adulthood; however, during adolescence, there is somewhat limited data to support this finding. In the present study, 65 typically developing adolescents underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging. Using magnetic resonance imaging, prefrontal white matter volumes were examined in relation to adolescent age and sex. Surprisingly, results suggested that prefrontal white matter volume decreased during late adolescence, particularly among the female sex. These findings are inconsistent with past research and suggest that perhaps some developmental processes in late adolescence are not yet fully explained. Possible methodological contributions and implications for the current findings are discussed.
ISSN:0959-4965
DOI:10.1097/01.wnr.0000233099.97784.45