Cited by 1,151Fetal and Pediatric Neurological DisordersAdvanced Neuroimaging Techniques and ApplicationsFunctional Brain Connectivity Studies

A Structural MRI Study of Human Brain Development from Birth to 2 Years

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Knickmeyer, Rebecca C., Gouttard, Sylvain, Kang, Chaeryon, Evans, Dianne, Wilber, Kathy, Smith, J. Keith, Hamer, Robert M., Lin, Weili +2 more·2008·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

Brain development in the first 2 years after birth is extremely dynamic and likely plays an important role in neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. Knowledge regarding this period is currently quite limited. We studied structural brain development in healthy subjects from birth to 2. Ninety-eight children received structural MRI scans on a Siemens head-only 3T scanner with magnetization prepared rapid gradient echo T1-weighted, and turbo spin echo, dual-echo (proton density and T2 weighted) sequences: 84 children at 2–4 weeks, 35 at 1 year and 26 at 2 years of age. Tissue segmentation was accomplished using a novel automated approach. Lateral ventricle, caudate, and hippocampal volumes were also determined. Total brain volume increased 101% in the first year, with a 15% increase in the second. The majority of hemispheric growth was accounted for by gray matter, which increased 149% in the first year; hemispheric white matter volume increased by only 11%. Cerebellum volume increased 240% in the first year. Lateral ventricle volume increased 280% in the first year, with a small decrease in the second. The caudate increased 19% and the hippocampus 13% from age 1 to age 2. There was robust growth of the human brain in the first two years of life, driven mainly by gray matter growth. In contrast, white matter growth was much slower. Cerebellum volume also increased substantially in the first year of life. These results suggest the structural underpinnings of cognitive and motor development in early childhood, as well as the potential pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders.

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Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.3479-08.2008

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  • The brain doubles in volume during year one and attains 80-90% of adult size by age three.

    “doubling in volume during the first year and reaching 80–90% of adult volume by age 3 (Courchesne et al., 2000; Knickmeyer et al., 2008).”
  • Recent imaging studies in early childhood have begun to reveal the very rapid pace of postnatal structural and functional brain development.

    “Recently, however, imaging studies in early childhood have begun to illuminate the extremely rapid pace of postnatal structural and functional brain development3–6.”
  • Brain volume is about 35% of adult volume two to three weeks after birth, doubles from term size in the first year, and increases an additional 15% in the second year to about 80% of adult size.

    “Brain volume is about 35% of adult volume 2–3 weeks after birth after birth13, doubles from term size in the first year of life and increases an additional 15% in the second to about 80% of adult size3.”
  • From birth to age one, cortical grey-matter volume increases by 108-149% while white matter increases by about 11%; from age one to two, grey matter increases by 14-19% while white matter increases by 19%.

    “From birth to age 1, cortical grey-matter volume increases 108–149%, whereas white matter increases by about 11%; from age 1 to age 2 years, grey matter increases 14–19%, whereas white matter increases by 19%3.”
  • Lateral ventricle volume increases by over 100% in the first year and then decreases by 7-24% in the second year.

    “Lateral ventricle volume increases by over 100% in year 1, but subsequently decreases by 7–24% in the second year of life3, 10, 19.”

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2 of the 65 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Sampaio RC Truwit CL Nelson CA Luciana M Myelination in the developing brain Handbook of developmental cognitive neuroscience 2001 Cambridge, MA MIT 35 44

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Authors
Knickmeyer, R. C., Gouttard, S., Kang, C., Evans, D., Wilber, K., Smith, J. K., Hamer, R. M., Lin, W., Gerig, G., & Gilmore, J. H.
Affiliations
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • University of Utah (US)
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2008-11-19
Volume
28
Issue
47
Pages
12176-12182
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2018077021
Cited by
1,151
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 67 · 2025: 82 · 2024: 85 · 2023: 79 · 2022: 71 · 2021: 99 · 2020: 112 · 2019: 80 · 2018: 75 · 2017: 58 · 2016: 55 · 2015: 61 · 2014: 57 · 2013: 44 · 2012: 46
FWCI
23.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) (submittedVersion)
  • UNC Libraries
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (UL1TR000454)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (HD053000, MH064065, T32MH019111, P50MH064065, MH019111)
  • National Center for Research Resources (UL1RR025008)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD053000, #HD03110, HD053000, P30HD003110, HD-40127, T32HD040127)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
Keywords
brain development, early childhood, cerebellum, lateral ventricle, caudate nucleus, hippocampus, total brain volume, neurodevelopmental disorders, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Brain, Brain Mapping, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Pregnancy

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