Abstract
Growing evidence supports that prenatal processes play an important role for cognitive ability in normal and clinical conditions. In this context, several neuroimaging studies searched for features in postnatal life that could serve as a proxy for earlier developmental events. A very interesting candidate is the sulcal, or sulco-gyral, patterns, macroscopic features of the cortex anatomy related to the fold topology—e.g., continuous vs. interrupted/broken fold, present vs. absent fold-or their spatial organization. Indeed, as opposed to quantitative features of the cortical sheet (e.g., thickness, surface area or curvature) taking decades to reach the levels measured in adult, the qualitative sulcal patterns are mainly determined before birth and stable across the lifespan. The sulcal patterns therefore offer a window on the fetal constraints on specific brain areas on cognitive abilities and clinical symptoms that manifest later in life. After a global review of the cerebral cortex sulcation, its mechanisms, its ontogenesis along with methodological issues on how to measure the sulcal patterns, we present a selection of studies illustrating that analysis of the sulcal patterns can provide information on prenatal dispositions to cognition (with a focus on cognitive control and academic abilities) and cognitive symptoms (with a focus on schizophrenia and bipolar disorders). Finally, perspectives of sulcal studies are discussed.
Highlights
Analysis of the brain structure from in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a main tool in biological psychology and psychiatry
Cortex Sulcation and Cognition evidence suggest that prenatal processes play a critical role for cognitive ability (Shenkin et al, 2004; Raznahan et al, 2012; Walhovd et al, 2012) and disease risk (Schlotz and Phillips, 2009) that appear in postnatal life (Schork et al, 2019)
As opposed to local quantitative features of the cortical sheet taking decades to reach the levels measured in adults (Armstrong et al, 1995; White et al, 2010; Raznahan et al, 2011; Li et al, 2014), the qualitative regional pattern derived from the primary, secondary and tertiary folds, or sulci, observed in adults is already evident at birth and stable during the development (Chi et al, 1977; Cachia et al, 2016; Tissier et al, 2018; Figure 2)
Summary
Analysis of the brain structure from in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a main tool in biological psychology and psychiatry. As opposed to local quantitative features of the cortical sheet (e.g., thickness, surface area or curvature/gyrification) taking decades to reach the levels measured in adults (Armstrong et al, 1995; White et al, 2010; Raznahan et al, 2011; Li et al, 2014), the qualitative regional pattern derived from the primary, secondary and tertiary folds, or sulci, observed in adults is already evident at birth and stable during the development (Chi et al, 1977; Cachia et al, 2016; Tissier et al, 2018; Figure 2) The analysis of such trait features of the brain can give information on the prenatal constraints imposed by some specific brain regions on later cognitive development. The limits and perspectives of sulcal studies are discussed
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