White matter microstructure abnormalities and executive function in adolescents with prenatal cocaine exposure

Abstract

Children with prenatal exposure to cocaine are at higher risk for negative behavioral function and attention difficulties, and have demonstrated brain diffusion abnormalities in frontal white matter regions. However, brain regions beyond frontal and callosal areas have not been investigated using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). DTI data were collected on 42 youth aged 14–16 years; subjects were divided into three groups based on detailed exposure histories: those with prenatal exposure to cocaine but not alcohol (PCE, n=12), prenatal exposure to cocaine and alcohol (CAE, n=17), and controls (n=13). Tractography was performed and along-tract diffusion parameters were examined for group differences and correlations with executive function measures. In the right arcuate fasciculus and cingulum, the CAE group had higher fractional anisotropy (FA) and/or lower mean diffusivity (MD) than the other two groups. The PCE group demonstrated lower FA in the right arcuate and higher MD in the splenium of the corpus callosum than controls. Diffusion parameters in tracts with group differences correlated with measures of executive function. In conclusion, these diffusion differences in adolescents with prenatal cocaine exposure suggest localized, long-term structural brain alterations that may underlie attention and response inhibition difficulties.

Prenatal cocaine exposure and age of sexual initiation: Direct and indirect effects

“…For example, there is evidence for structural differences in the brain regions of adolescents with PCE. These brain regions are associated with difficulties in response inhibition (Lebel et al, 2013) and risk for substance use (Rando et al, 2013). …”

Stroop Color-Word Interference Test: Normative data for Spanish-speaking pediatric population

“…Within the pediatric literature, the Stroop Test has been used to assess executive dysfunctions in several children illness groups, including Traumatic Brain Injury (Max et al, 2013), benign focal childhood epilepsy (Kernan et al, 2012), leukemia (Kim et al, 2015), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Assef, Capovilla, & Capovilla, 2007;Chang, Liu, Yu, & Lee, 2012), autism (Lai et al, 2016), learning disabilities (Westendorp, Hartman, Houwen, Smith, & Visscher, 2014), as well as prenatal exposure to alcohol, cocaine and tobacco (Gautam, Warner, Kan, & Sowell, 2015;Lebel et al, 2013).…”

White matter abnormalities and impaired attention abilities in children born very preterm

“…Such studies have demonstrated a link between orienting performance and the superior longitudinal fasciculus and corpus callosum (Niogi et al , 2010, de Schotten et al , 2011, Bennett et al , 2012), and alerting performance and the right superior longitudinal fasciculus and corpus callosum (Mabbott et al , 2006, Takahashi et al , 2010, Klarborg et al , 2013). Complex attention processes (i.e., shifting and divided attention) have been associated with the cingulum bundle, superior longitudinal fasciculus and corpus callosum (Schulte et al , 2008, Kubicki et al , 2009, Salo et al , 2009, Takei et al , 2009, Schulte et al , 2012, Lebel et al , 2013, Peters et al , 2014). …”