Cited by 148Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and ApplicationsCognitive Abilities and TestingDevelopmental and Educational Neuropsychology

White matter maturation profiles through early childhood predict general cognitive ability

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Deoni, Sean C. L., O’Muircheartaigh, Jonathan, Elison, Jed T., Walker, Lindsay, Doernberg, Ellen, Waskiewicz, Nicole, Dirks, Holly, Piryatinsky, Irene +2 more·2016·Brain Structure and Function

Abstract

Infancy and early childhood are periods of rapid brain development, during which brain structure and function mature alongside evolving cognitive ability. An important neurodevelopmental process during this postnatal period is the maturation of the myelinated white matter, which facilitates rapid communication across neural systems and networks. Though prior brain imaging studies in children (4 years of age and above), adolescents, and adults have consistently linked white matter development with cognitive maturation and intelligence, few studies have examined how these processes are related throughout early development (birth to 4 years of age). Here, we show that the profile of white matter myelination across the first 5 years of life is strongly and specifically related to cognitive ability. Using a longitudinal design, coupled with advanced magnetic resonance imaging, we demonstrate that children with above-average ability show differential trajectories of myelin development compared to average and below average ability children, even when controlling for socioeconomic status, gestation, and birth weight. Specifically, higher ability children exhibit slower but more prolonged early development, resulting in overall increased myelin measures by ~3 years of age. These results provide new insight into the early neuroanatomical correlates of cognitive ability, and suggest an early period of prolonged maturation with associated protracted white matter plasticity may result in strengthened neural networks that can better support later development. Further, these results reinforce the necessity of a longitudinal perspective in investigating typical or suspected atypical cognitive maturation.

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  • Myelin water fraction studies found age-dependent relationships between myelination and general cognitive ability from 3 months to 5 years.

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  1. Campbell J, Stikov N, RF D, Pike GB (2014) Combined NODDI and qMT for full-brain g-ratio mapping with complex subvoxel microstructure. In: Proc. Intl. Soc. Mag. Reson. Med., Milan, p 393
  2. Hurley SA, Mossahebi PM, Samsonov AA (2010) Multicomponent Relaxometry (mcDESPOT) in the Shaking Pup Model of Dysmyelination. In: Proceedings of ISMRM, Stockholm, p 4516

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Authors
Deoni, S. C. L., O’Muircheartaigh, J., Elison, J. T., Walker, L., Doernberg, E., Waskiewicz, N., Dirks, H., Piryatinsky, I., Dean, D. C., & Jumbe, N. L.
Affiliations
  • Brown University (US)
  • King's College London (GB)
  • University of Minnesota (US)
  • Gates Foundation (US)
Corresponding author
Deoni, Sean C. L.
Venue
Brain Structure and Function
Published
2014-11-29
Volume
221
Issue
2
Pages
1189-1203
ISSN
  • 1863-2653 (ISSN-L)
  • 1863-2661
OpenAlex
W2000113085
Cited by
147
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 6
FWCI
4.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain Structure and Function (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Wellcome Trust (096195)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH087510)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
Keywords
white matter maturation, myelination, cognitive ability, early childhood, infancy, brain development, white matter plasticity, intelligence, longitudinal brain development
MeSH terms
Brain, Brain Mapping, Child Development, Child, Preschool, Cognition, Female, Forecasting, Humans, Infant, Intelligence, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Myelin Sheath, Nerve Fibers, Myelinated, Case-Control Studies, White Matter

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