Morphometry and development: Changes in brain structure from birth to adult age

Abstract

This chapter gives an overview of the field of brain morphometry and development from birth to adult age, including selected methodological considerations and fields of application. Brain development is an area of research where morphometry studies have greatly increased our knowledge, revealing organized patterns where regional differences in cortical, subcortical, and white matter structural maturation play a role for cognitive development. Studies show that early rapid increases in gray matter structures are generally followed by decreases, whereas white matter continues to increase throughout childhood and adolescence. The chapter also highlights the importance of developmental perspectives in structural neuroimaging studies for our understanding of clinical conditions such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, and epilepsy.