Article Title: Anatomic magnetic resonance imaging of the developing child and adolescent brain and effects of genetic variation
Authors: J.N. Giedd, M. Stockman, C. Weddle, M. Liverpool, A. Alexander-Bloch, G.L. Wallace, N.R. Lee, F. Lalonde, R.K. Lenroot
Date of Publication: November 11, 2010
“Magnetic resonance imaging studies have begun to map effects of genetic variation on trajectories of brain development. Longitudinal studies of children and adolescents demonstrate a general pattern of childhood peaks of gray matter followed by adolescent declines, functional and structural increases in connectivity and integrative processing, and a changing balance between limbic/subcortical and frontal lobe functions, which extends well into young adulthood. Twin studies have demonstrated that genetic factors are responsible for a significant amount of variation in pediatric brain morphometry.”