Researchers Generate Brain-development Index

A recent study published in the journal Cerebral Cortex found a relationship between cognitive development and physical changes in the brain. Researchers generated a brain-development index from MRI scans that captured the complex patterns of maturation during childhood to early adulthood. Findings suggest that MRI scans may be a useful tool to aid in the early detection of developmental abnormalities. The study is the first to present a comprehensive index for the entire brain during late childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood — periods when the healthy human brain maturates in a consistent way — deviations from which could possibly signify neuropsychiatric problems later in life. To read more about this study, click here.