Burst of gyrification in the human brain after birth
Abstract Gyrification, the intricate folding of the brain’s cortex, begins mid-gestation and surges dramatically throughout the perinatal period. Yet, a critical factor has been largely overlooked in neurodevelopmental research: the profound impact of birth on brain structure. Leveraging the largest...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08155-z |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850231385230409728 |
|---|---|
| author | Angeline Mihailov Alexandre Pron Julien Lefèvre Christine Deruelle Béatrice Desnous Florence Bretelle Aurélie Manchon Mathieu Milh François Rousseau Nadine Girard Guillaume Auzias |
| author_facet | Angeline Mihailov Alexandre Pron Julien Lefèvre Christine Deruelle Béatrice Desnous Florence Bretelle Aurélie Manchon Mathieu Milh François Rousseau Nadine Girard Guillaume Auzias |
| author_sort | Angeline Mihailov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Gyrification, the intricate folding of the brain’s cortex, begins mid-gestation and surges dramatically throughout the perinatal period. Yet, a critical factor has been largely overlooked in neurodevelopmental research: the profound impact of birth on brain structure. Leveraging the largest known perinatal MRI dataset—819 sessions spanning 21 to 45 postconceptional weeks—we reveal a burst in gyrification immediately following birth (~37 weeks post-conception), amounting to half the entire gyrification expansion occurring during the fetal period. Using state-of-the-art, homogenized imaging processing tools across varied acquisition protocols, and applying a regression discontinuity design approach that is novel to neuroimaging, we provide the first evidence of a sudden, birth-triggered shift in cortical development. Investigation of additional cortical features confirms that this effect is uniquely confined to gyrification. This finding sheds light onto the understanding of early brain development, suggesting that the neurobiological consequences of birth may hold significant behavioral and physiological relevance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd7dcb1a2eda4682bf333104d08390ca |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd7dcb1a2eda4682bf333104d08390ca2025-08-20T02:03:32ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-05-018111310.1038/s42003-025-08155-zBurst of gyrification in the human brain after birthAngeline Mihailov0Alexandre Pron1Julien Lefèvre2Christine Deruelle3Béatrice Desnous4Florence Bretelle5Aurélie Manchon6Mathieu Milh7François Rousseau8Nadine Girard9Guillaume Auzias10Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, UMR 7289, CNRS, Aix-Marseille UniversitéInstitut de Neurosciences de la Timone, UMR 7289, CNRS, Aix-Marseille UniversitéInstitut de Neurosciences de la Timone, UMR 7289, CNRS, Aix-Marseille UniversitéInstitut de Neurosciences de la Timone, UMR 7289, CNRS, Aix-Marseille UniversitéAPHM, Service de Neurologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital de la Timone, Aix-Marseille UniversityAPHM, Service de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Hôpital Nord, Aix-Marseille UniversityInstitut de Neurosciences de la Timone, UMR 7289, CNRS, Aix-Marseille UniversitéAPHM, Service de Neurologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital de la Timone, Aix-Marseille UniversityIMT Atlantique, LaTIM U1101 INSERMInstitut de Neurosciences de la Timone, UMR 7289, CNRS, Aix-Marseille UniversitéInstitut de Neurosciences de la Timone, UMR 7289, CNRS, Aix-Marseille UniversitéAbstract Gyrification, the intricate folding of the brain’s cortex, begins mid-gestation and surges dramatically throughout the perinatal period. Yet, a critical factor has been largely overlooked in neurodevelopmental research: the profound impact of birth on brain structure. Leveraging the largest known perinatal MRI dataset—819 sessions spanning 21 to 45 postconceptional weeks—we reveal a burst in gyrification immediately following birth (~37 weeks post-conception), amounting to half the entire gyrification expansion occurring during the fetal period. Using state-of-the-art, homogenized imaging processing tools across varied acquisition protocols, and applying a regression discontinuity design approach that is novel to neuroimaging, we provide the first evidence of a sudden, birth-triggered shift in cortical development. Investigation of additional cortical features confirms that this effect is uniquely confined to gyrification. This finding sheds light onto the understanding of early brain development, suggesting that the neurobiological consequences of birth may hold significant behavioral and physiological relevance.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08155-z |
| spellingShingle | Angeline Mihailov Alexandre Pron Julien Lefèvre Christine Deruelle Béatrice Desnous Florence Bretelle Aurélie Manchon Mathieu Milh François Rousseau Nadine Girard Guillaume Auzias Burst of gyrification in the human brain after birth Communications Biology |
| title | Burst of gyrification in the human brain after birth |
| title_full | Burst of gyrification in the human brain after birth |
| title_fullStr | Burst of gyrification in the human brain after birth |
| title_full_unstemmed | Burst of gyrification in the human brain after birth |
| title_short | Burst of gyrification in the human brain after birth |
| title_sort | burst of gyrification in the human brain after birth |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08155-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT angelinemihailov burstofgyrificationinthehumanbrainafterbirth AT alexandrepron burstofgyrificationinthehumanbrainafterbirth AT julienlefevre burstofgyrificationinthehumanbrainafterbirth AT christinederuelle burstofgyrificationinthehumanbrainafterbirth AT beatricedesnous burstofgyrificationinthehumanbrainafterbirth AT florencebretelle burstofgyrificationinthehumanbrainafterbirth AT aureliemanchon burstofgyrificationinthehumanbrainafterbirth AT mathieumilh burstofgyrificationinthehumanbrainafterbirth AT francoisrousseau burstofgyrificationinthehumanbrainafterbirth AT nadinegirard burstofgyrificationinthehumanbrainafterbirth AT guillaumeauzias burstofgyrificationinthehumanbrainafterbirth |