New study displays how brain develops
Source: Agencies |
January 13, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
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BRITISH scientists have revealed how our brain "wiring" develops in the first few months of life and say their findings will help in the understanding of a range of brain and psychiatric disorders.
Using a new imaging technique, researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London scanned babies' brains to monitor the formation of insulating layers around nerve cells.
They found that by the age of nine months, the process - known as myelination and vital for normal brain function - was visible in all brain areas and in some regions had developed to a near adult-like level.
"We already know that insulating myelin sheaths form the cornerstone of our neurodevelopment. Without them, messages to and from the brain would be in disarray," said Sean Deoni, who led the study, published by the Journal of Neuroscience.
"By understanding exactly how myelin develops and when this process breaks down, we hope to be able to tailor treatments for vulnerable patients, such as premature babies, and understand what differentiates those that develop normally from those who have some delay or disability."
Deoni's team scanned 14 healthy babies who were born at full term. They were scanned while they were asleep using a specially-modified, quiet, baby-friendly MRI scanner.
To build up a picture of their myelin development, the scientists scanned the infants monthly between three and 11 months and found that by nine months, they could see that myelination had taken place in all areas of the brain.
"Until now, we've not been able to show how myelination develops in babies but this new MRI technique allows us to do just that," said Declan Murphy, also from King's College London, who oversaw the research.
Using a new imaging technique, researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London scanned babies' brains to monitor the formation of insulating layers around nerve cells.
They found that by the age of nine months, the process - known as myelination and vital for normal brain function - was visible in all brain areas and in some regions had developed to a near adult-like level.
"We already know that insulating myelin sheaths form the cornerstone of our neurodevelopment. Without them, messages to and from the brain would be in disarray," said Sean Deoni, who led the study, published by the Journal of Neuroscience.
"By understanding exactly how myelin develops and when this process breaks down, we hope to be able to tailor treatments for vulnerable patients, such as premature babies, and understand what differentiates those that develop normally from those who have some delay or disability."
Deoni's team scanned 14 healthy babies who were born at full term. They were scanned while they were asleep using a specially-modified, quiet, baby-friendly MRI scanner.
To build up a picture of their myelin development, the scientists scanned the infants monthly between three and 11 months and found that by nine months, they could see that myelination had taken place in all areas of the brain.
"Until now, we've not been able to show how myelination develops in babies but this new MRI technique allows us to do just that," said Declan Murphy, also from King's College London, who oversaw the research.
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