Early White Matter Maturation: A Longitudinal Study of Normal Pediatric Subjects from the Age of 2 Weeks to 4 Years

Yasheng Chen¹, Hongtu Zhu², Dinggang Shen¹, Hongyu An¹, John Gilmore³, Weili Lin¹

This is a longitudinal study to quantify early white matter maturation patterns via diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Twenty nine full-term, healthy babies were longitudinally scanned for a total of 71 data sets spanning from 2wks after birth to four-year-old. The changing patterns in four DTI parameters including fractional anisotropy, mean, radial and axial diffusivities were quantified through a generalized estimating equation based longitudinal analysis framework. We found that the genu of the corpus callosum has a more rapid myelination process when compared to the internal capsule and the splenium and body of the corpus callosum. The external capsule has a slower maturation pace compared to the corpus callosum and internal capsule.