Children's Brain Development Benefits from Longer Gestation
University of California, Irvine · Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Abstract
Disruptions to brain development associated with shortened gestation place individuals at risk for the development of behavioral and psychological dysfunction throughout the lifespan. The purpose of the present study was to determine if the benefit for brain development conferred by increased gestational length exists on a continuum across the gestational age spectrum among healthy children with a stable neonatal course. Neurodevelopment was evaluated with structural magnetic resonance imaging in 100 healthy right-handed 6- to 10-year-old children born between 28 and 41 gestational weeks with a stable neonatal course. Data indicate that a longer gestational period confers an advantage for neurodevelopment.…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 108.82
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 61
Authors
8Topics & keywords
- Gestation
- Gestational age
- Brain development
- Psychology
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- Pediatrics
- Neuroimaging
- Pregnancy