Shape of the basal ganglia in preadolescent children is associated with cognitive performance

Abstract

Current studies support the belief that high levels of performance and intellectual abilities are associated with increased brain size or volume. With few exceptions, this conclusion is restricted to studies of post-adolescent subjects and to cerebral cortex. There is evidence that “bigger is better” may not pertain to children and further, that there are areas of the brain in which larger structures are associated with cognitive deficits. In 50 preadolescent children (21 girls) a structural survey of the brain (VBM) was conducted to determine and locate areas in which gray matter volume was associated with poor cognitive performance. Only increased gray matter volume in particular areas of the basal ganglia and specifically the putamen were significantly associated with poor performance on tests of memory, response speed and a general marker and subtests of intelligence. Based on the VBM findings, volumetric analysis of basal ganglia structures were performed using FSL/FIRST. However, no significant changes in total volume of putamen or other basal ganglia structures were detected with this analysis. The disagreement between measures of localized gray matter differences and volumetric analysis suggested that there might be local regional deformity rather than widespread volumetric changes of the putamen. Surface analysis with FSL/FIRST demonstrated that bilateral outward deformation of the putamen, but especially the left, was associated with poor performance on several cognitive tests. Expansion of the globus pallidus and caudate nucleus also was associated with poor performance. Moreover a significant association was detected between a reliable test of language-free intelligence and topographically distinct outward and inward deformation of the putamen. Expansion and contraction of the putamen as a predictor of intelligence may explain why this association was not observed with measures of total volume. These results suggest that deformity is a sensitive measure of function, and that distortion of the basal ganglia may be a neurophenotype for risk of developmental impairment.

Response control correlates of anomalous basal ganglia morphology in boys, but not girls, with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

“…These findings are only partially consistent with a previous study reporting larger putamen volume correlated with poorer performance on measures of non-verbal intellectual reasoning ability, visual-spatial construction skills, motor response speed, and declarative memory [39]. In addition, localized expansion and compression within the putamen correlated with poorer performance on a perceptual reasoning task [39]. We did not find any evidence of localized expansion or increased volume correlating with our response control measures.…”

“…Collectively, these findings indicate anomalous morphology of the globus pallidus and putamen in boys with ADHD that relates to response control. These findings are only partially consistent with a previous study reporting larger putamen volume correlated with poorer performance on measures of non-verbal intellectual reasoning ability, visual-spatial construction skills, motor response speed, and declarative memory [39]. In addition, localized expansion and compression within the putamen correlated with poorer performance on a perceptual reasoning task [39].…”

Follow-up at age 10years in ELBW children — Functional outcome, brain morphology and results from motor assessments in infancy

“…Cognitive and motor impairments in preterm born children are frequently reported and correlations have been found with reduced gray matter volumes [4], reduced cortical thickness [22] or thinning of the corpus callosum [23]. In accordance with our findings, Bjuland et al reported associations between full IQ and volumes of several brain areas including the putamen and globus pallidus in VLBW young adults [24], and a recent study in healthy children reported that a deformation of the shape of the putamen was associated with poor cognitive performance [25]. In our study reduced volumes of putamen, cerebellar white matter and corpus callosum were correlated with increased hyperactivity and inattention (higher ADHD scores), indicating involvement of behavioral networks.…”

Whole-brain structural connectivity in dyskinetic cerebral palsy and its association with motor and cognitive function

“…The large overlap of the IQ component with the one found with GMFCS was totally expected, as poorer motor function has been strongly associated with greater cognitive impairment in dyskinetic CP [Himmelmann et al, ]. This relationship is not surprising as an increasing amount of evidence shows the relevant role that basal ganglia connectivity also play in cognition [Burgaleta et al, ; Rhein et al, ; Sandman et al, ], especially for their prefrontal connections [Leisman et al, ]. Interestingly, those connections included in the IQ component and non‐shared with the GMFCS component involved prefrontal areas such as the pars triangularis of the inferior frontal gyrus, the caudal part of the middle frontal gyrus or the superior frontal gyrus.…”