This observational study will investigate whether differences in birth events and oxygen levels during the newborn period affects the brain activity of children during the middle childhood years.
The investigators will conduct an observational study comparing two groups of children to determine whether differences in birth events and oxygen levels during the newborn period lead to structural and functional impairment within the brain's dopaminergic pathways and the cortical regions innervated by those pathways. The dopaminergic system is involved in modulating motor control and cognitive function. Using magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging, structural integrity of dopaminergic circuits will be quantified and compared in post-hypoxic former preterm children versus healthy control children born at term closely matched by age/sex/race. Functional activity during executive function tasks will be quantified and compared in post-hypoxic former preterm children versus healthy control children born at term using functional magnetic resonance imaging-blood oxygen level dependent (fMRI-BOLD). Assessment of motor function (grooved pegboard task) will also be performed.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
21
MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the brain while the person's head is positioned inside a round tunnel.
For the Grooved Pegboard task: After the MRI scan, children will be timed as they place pegs into holes with randomly positioned slots.
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Structural Integrity of Dopaminergic Circuits
Assessment of dopaminergic circuits originating in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Includes right and left nucleus accumbens, right and left mamillary body, right and left hippocampus. Measured using Magnetic Resonance T1-weighted magnetization prepared rapid gradient echo (MPRAGE) scans with three-dimensional volumetrics analysis
Time frame: 30 minutes
Functional Activity During Executive Function Tasks
Subjects in each group were evaluated for changes in functional connectivity between the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA), as evaluated by functional magnetic resonance imaging blood oxygen level dependent (fMRI-BOLD), using whole brain analysis. The measurement is increase/decrease of MRI signal intensity in a given region, thresholded at p \<0.05, summarized into a value representing 'size of region of increase' or 'size of region of decrease' after subjects' scans were combined/mapped onto a standard MNI brain. Only clusters of over 50 voxels were included, and the size of the region is reported in voxel size. The averaged brains for prematurely born fMRI was subtracted from the full term treatment for each group, and then these averaged differences were subtracted from each other. While other areas of the brain met threshold criteria in the analysis, only brain regions innervated by primary or collateral dopaminergic pathways are reported.
Time frame: 30 minutes
Cognitive Performance-Fine Motor Function
Measured using the grooved pegboard task (number of seconds required to place 25 pegs using the dominant hand)
Time frame: 20 minutes
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