Neurodevelopmental Trajectories in Children With Internalizing, Externalizing and Emotion Dysregulation Symptoms

Elisabet Blok, Eloy P. T. Geenjaar, Eloïse Geenjaar, Vince D. Calhoun, Tonya White*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)
44 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood and adolescence are crucial periods for brain and behavioral development. However, it is not yet clear how and when deviations from typical brain development are related to broad domains of psychopathology.

Methods: Using three waves of neuroimaging data within the population-based Generation R Study sample, spanning a total age range of 6–16 years, we applied normative modeling to establish typical development curves for (sub-)cortical volume in 37 brain regions, and cortical thickness in 32 brain regions. Z-scores representing deviations from typical development were extracted and related to internalizing, externalizing and dysregulation profile (DP) symptoms.

Results: Normative modeling showed regional differences in developmental trajectories. Psychopathology symptoms were related to negative deviations from typical development for cortical volume in widespread regions of the cortex and subcortex, and to positive deviations from typical development for cortical thickness in the orbitofrontal, frontal pole, pericalcarine and posterior cingulate regions of the cortex.

Discussion: Taken together, this study charts developmental curves across the cerebrum for (sub-)cortical volume and cortical thickness. Our findings show that psychopathology symptoms, are associated with widespread differences in brain development, in which those with DP symptoms are most heavily affected.
Original languageEnglish
Article number846201
JournalFrontiers in Psychiatry
Volume13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Mar 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Sophia Children's Hospital Research Foundation (SSWO) Project #S18-68, #S20-48 and the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) TOP Project Number 91211021. The general design of the Generation R Study is made possible by financial support from the Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, ZonMw, the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, and is conducted by the Erasmus Medical Center in close collaboration with the Faculty of Social Sciences of the Erasmus University Rotterdam, and the Stichting Trombosedienst & Artsenlaboratorium Rijnmond (STAR-MDC), Rotterdam.

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Blok, Geenjaar, Geenjaar, Calhoun and White.

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Neurodevelopmental Trajectories in Children With Internalizing, Externalizing and Emotion Dysregulation Symptoms'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this