Development of cortical folds in the human brain: An attempt to review biological hypotheses, early neuroimaging investigations and functional correlates

The folding of the human brain mostly takes place in utero, making it challenging to study. After a few pioneer studies looking into it in post-mortem foetal specimen, modern approaches based on neuroimaging have allowed the community to investigate the folding process in vivo, its normal progressio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Developmental cognitive neuroscience 2023-06, Vol.61, p.101249-101249, Article 101249
Main Authors: de Vareilles, H., Rivière, D., Mangin, JF, Dubois, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brain
Cerebral Cortex - diagnostic imaging
Child
Fetus
Fetuses
from the Special Issue on Flux 2021
Edited by Beatriz Luna, Nikolaus Steinbeis
Duncan Astle
Alexandra Cohen
Yee Lee Shing
Gyrification
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Life Sciences
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods
MRI
Neonates
Neuroimaging - methods
Prematurity
Sulcus
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Summary:The folding of the human brain mostly takes place in utero, making it challenging to study. After a few pioneer studies looking into it in post-mortem foetal specimen, modern approaches based on neuroimaging have allowed the community to investigate the folding process in vivo, its normal progression, its early disturbances, and its relationship to later functional outcomes. In this review article, we aimed to first give an overview of the current hypotheses on the mechanisms governing cortical folding. After describing the methodological difficulties raised by its study in fetuses, neonates and infants with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we reported our current understanding of sulcal pattern emergence in the developing brain. We then highlighted the functional relevance of early sulcal development, through recent insights about hemispheric asymmetries and early factors influencing this dynamic such as prematurity. Finally, we outlined how longitudinal studies have started to relate early folding markers and the child’s sensorimotor and cognitive outcome. Through this review, we hope to raise awareness on the potential of studying early sulcal patterns both from a fundamental and clinical perspective, as a window into early neurodevelopment and plasticity in relation to growth in utero and postnatal environment of the child.
ISSN:1878-9293
1878-9307
DOI:10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101249