Variability of human brain structure size: ages 4–20 years
Abstract
Understanding variability of human brain structure sizes during development is important for the design and interpretation of pediatric neuroimaging studies. In this study we analyze the effects of hemisphere, sex and age on size variability of the total cerebrum, cerebellum, lateral ventricles, temporal lobe, amygdala, hippocampus, superior temporal gyrus, corpus callosum, caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus in 115 healthy children and adolescents, ages 4-20 years. Variability differed significantly across structures, with the lateral ventricles demonstrating the highest coefficient of variation and the putamen the lowest. Males varied significantly more than females in the left cerebrum and left superior temporal gyrus, whereas females varied more than males in the right caudate and right putamen. Age effects were seen in increased variability after puberty for the lateral ventricles, hippocampus and superior temporal gyrus. These variances are important determinants of minimum sample sizes required to detect group differences in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.
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The study was restricted to males only to limit treatment-related variability and inherent sex differences in brain development while maximizing eligible participants.
“To limit treatment‐related variability and inherent sex differences in brain development (De Bellis et al., 2001; Gur et al., 1999; Lange, Giedd, Castellanos, Vaituzis, & Rapoport, 1997; Kang, Herron, & Woods, 2011), while maximizing eligible participants, we restricted this study to males only.”
From Brain structure, working memory and response inhibition in childhood leukemia survivors (2017) · cites this paper as Lange, Giedd, Castellanos, Vaituzis, & Rapoport, 1997
Sex is known to modulate brain development so that manifestation of late effects at any given age may depend on sex.
“Firstly, sex is known to modulate brain development (De Bellis et al., 2001; Gur et al., 1999; Lange et al., 1997; Kang et al., 2011) so that manifestation of late effects at any given age may depend on sex (Anderson & Kunin‐Batson, 2009; Buizer, de Sonneville, van den Heuvel‐Eibrink, & Veerman, 2005).”
From Brain structure, working memory and response inhibition in childhood leukemia survivors (2017) · cites this paper as Lange et al., 1997
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“Firstly, sex is known to modulate brain development (De Bellis et al., 2001; Gur et al., 1999; Lange et al., 1997; Kang et al., 2011) so that manifestation of late effects at any given age may depend on sex (Anderson & Kunin- Batson, 2009; Buizer, de Sonneville, van den Heuvel- Eibrink, & Veerman, 2005).”
Background
- Authors
- Lange, N., Giedd, J. N., Xavier Castellanos, F., Vaituzis, A. C., & Rapoport, J. L.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- National Institutes of Health (US)
- Corresponding author
- Lange, Nicholas
- Venue
- Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1997-03
- Volume
- 74
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-12
- ISSN
- 0925-4927 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2075116768
- Cited by
- 134
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 2.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
- Keywords
- brain development, children and adolescents, cerebrum, cerebellum, lateral ventricle, amygdala, hippocampus, superior temporal gyrus, corpus callosum, caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, sex differences, hemispheric lateralization, puberty, sample size determination, pediatric neuroimaging
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Brain, Brain Mapping, Cephalometry, Child, Child, Preschool, Dominance, Cerebral, Female, Humans, Intelligence, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Reference Values
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