The Developmental Trajectory of Brain-Scalp Distance from Birth through Childhood
Author Information
Author(s): Michael S. Beauchamp, Michelle R. Beurlot, Eswen Fava, Audrey R. Nath, Nehal A. Parikh, Ziad S. Saad, Heather Bortfeld, John S. Oghalai
Primary Institution: University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
Hypothesis
There would be significant differences between ages, with younger children having reduced brain-scalp distances; and significant differences between brain areas, with greater brain-scalp distances in some regions relative to others.
Conclusion
Brain-scalp distances increase with age and vary significantly between different cortical regions.
Supporting Evidence
- Brain-scalp distances were lowest in young children and increased with age.
- Significant differences in brain-scalp distance were found between different cortical regions.
- Right hemisphere distances were significantly greater than left in frontal and temporal regions.
- Developmental changes in brain-scalp distance were primarily due to increases in CSF and cranial table.
Takeaway
As kids grow, the distance between their brains and their scalps gets bigger, which is important for understanding how we study brain activity in children.
Methodology
The study used structural T1-weighted MRI scans to measure brain-scalp distance in children from newborn to age 12.
Potential Biases
Variability in brain-scalp distance across subjects may complicate group comparisons.
Limitations
Some landmarks could not be accurately reconstructed in certain subjects, leading to exclusions from the analysis.
Participant Demographics
Participants included healthy children ranging from newborns to 12 years old.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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