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Abstract
The neurodevelopmental disabilities of those who were born prematurely have been well
described, yet the underlying alterations in brain development that lead to these
changes remain poorly understood. Processes that are vulnerable to injury in the developing
brain include maturation of oligodendrocyte precursors and genetically programmed
changes in cortical connectivity; recent data have indicated that diffuse injury of
the white matter accompanied by neuronal and axonal disruption is common in prematurely
born infants. Recent advances in MRI include diffusion tensor imaging and sophisticated
image analysis tools, such as functional connectivity, voxel-based morphometry, and
mathematical morphology-based cortical folding strategies. These advanced techniques
have shown that white matter structure is dependent on gestational age and have started
to provide important information about the dynamic interactions between development,
injury, and functional recovery in the preterm brain. Identification of early biomarkers
for outcome could enable physicians and scientists to develop targeted pharmacological
and behavioural therapies to restore functional connectivity.