Examining the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on corticothalamic connectivity: A multimodal neuroimaging study in children

Abstract

Children with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience a range of cognitive and behavioral effects. Prior studies have demonstrated white matter changes in children with FASD relative to typically developing controls (TDC) and these changes relate to behavior. Our prior MEG study (Candelaria-Cook et al. 2020) demonstrated reduced alpha oscillations during rest in FASD relative to TDC and alpha power is correlated with behavior. However, little is known about how brain structure influences brain function. We hypothesized that alpha power was related to corticothalamic connectivity. Children 8–13 years of age (TDC: N = 25, FASD: N = 24) underwent rest MEG with eyes open or closed and MRI to collect structural and diffusion tensor imaging data. MEG spectral analysis was performed for sensor and source data. We estimated mean fractional anisotropy in regions of interest (ROIs) that included the corticothalamic tracts. The FASD group had reduced mean FA in three of the corticothalamic ROIs. FA in these tracts was significantly correlated with alpha power at the sensor and source level. The results support the hypothesis that integrity of the corticothalamic tracts influences cortical alpha power. Further research is needed to understand how brain structure and function influence behavior.

Decreased resting-state alpha peak frequency in children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders or prenatal alcohol exposure

“…For the present study, data were pooled from 5 separate studies conducted at the Mind Research Network and University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center (UNM-HSC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico ( Stephen et al, 2012 , Stephen et al, 2013 , Candelaria-Cook et al, 2021 , Stephen et al, 2021 , Stephen et al, 2018 ). In total, 157 infants, children and adolescents (4 months-17 years of age) were included: 17 with PAE, 61 with an FASD, and 84 TDC.…”

“…The 5 separate studies from which data are pooled are referred to as S1–S5 in Table 1 , further information on each study is provided within references, S1 ( Stephen et al, 2021 , Candelaria-Cook et al, 2021 ), S2 (ongoing study not yet published), S3 ( Coffman et al, 2020 , Bolanos et al, 2017 , Stephen et al, 2013 ), S4 ( Stephen et al, 2012 ), S5 ( Stephen et al, 2018 ). Each study (S1–S5) had unique aims and protocols, but were similar in that they were conducted in FASD/PAE populations and included resting-state data.…”

“…Structurally, children with an FASD have widespread decreases in white matter integrity ( Lebel et al, 2008 , Sowell et al, 2008 ), decreased corpus callosum thickness ( Riley et al, 1995 ), microstructural abnormalities ( Honey et al, 2012 ), and reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in white matter tracts ( Wozniak et al, 2006 , Lebel et al, 2008 , Sowell et al, 2008 , Paolozza et al, 2017 ), including corticothalamic tracts ( Stephen et al, 2021 ). Functionally, the structural differences reported in children with an FASD have resulted in impaired cortico-cortical connections during a resting-state.…”

“…Conversely, by 8–12 years of age, alpha oscillations are reduced in children with FAS within superior parietal and lateral occipital cortex ( Candelaria-Cook et al, 2021 ). Cortical alpha power is directly influenced by integrity of corticothalamic tracts ( Hughes and Crunelli, 2005 , Hughes et al, 2011 ) in typically developing children but not in children with an FASD ( Stephen et al, 2021 ), indicating the need to examine other neural oscillation variables, such as alpha peak frequency. However, to date, no studies have explored alpha peak frequency following PAE.…”

Psychological Resilience in Adolescence as a function of Genetic Risk for Major Depressive Disorder and Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Secondarily, we sought to extend findings on the lifelong neurodevelopmental consequences of perinatal adversity exposure by characterising its potential risk-enhancing or protective ("inoculation"-like) role with regards to resilience, whether manifest directly or indirectly via an altered rate of biological ageing (i.e., pubertal timing) (cf. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. Our complete model is depicted in Figure 1.…”