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Abstract #0034

Variations in tract-specific fibre density and morphology with puberty and behaviour across childhood

Sila Genc1,2, Charles B Malpas2,3, Marc L Seal1,2, and Timothy J Silk2,4

1Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia, 2Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia, 3Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia, 4School of Pschology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia

Microstructural development is dynamic throughout childhood and adolescence. Modelling these profiles requires statistical flexibility to understand complex interplays between related phenotypes such as sex, pubertal stage, and age. We leverage the fixel-based analysis framework and compute fibre density and morphology metrics in selective white matter tracts, to enable longitudinal mixed-effects modelling of multiple phenotypes. We show that longitudinal development of white matter fibre properties in children aged 9–14 dominates in posterior fibres. Increases in fibre density are associated with increases in pubertal stage and attention dysfunction, and protracted increases in fibre density are associated with greater internalising behaviours.

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