MATURATION OF HUMAN CEREBRUM OBSERVED <i>IN VIVO</i> DURING ADOLESCENCE

TLDR

The changes may be related to decreasing neural plasticity. MRI revealed that during adolescence the frontal and parietal cortex undergoes grey‑matter reduction accompanied by increased cerebrospinal fluid in sulci, with smaller volume decreases in subcortical nuclei, indicating late brain maturation.

Abstract

SUMMARY In the present study using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), age changes in the morphology of the cerebral cortex, greatest in the frontal and parietal convexities, were observed during adolescence. Results suggest that increases in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the sulci of these cortical regions accompany grey matter decreases. Smaller reductions in volume are also observed in subcortical grey matter nuclei. These apparent grey matter volume reductions presumably reflect processes of late brain maturation. The changes may be related to decreasing neural plasticity.