A methodological review of fetal neurosonographic studies: New directions in assessment of neurodevelopmental risk for mental health problems. (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Whittle, Sarah; Finn, Martha; Little, Keriann; Olsson, Craig A.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 114(2020)
• Page Start: 172
• Page End: 193
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: Neurosonography -- Ultrasound -- Fetus -- Neurodevelopment -- Psychiatry -- Risk factor; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Highlights: Many mental disorders are thought to have neurodevelopmental origins. Neurosonography is a cost effective way to image the development of the fetal brain. 81 neurosonography studies identified that describe methods to measure fetal brain. High quality studies: corpus callosum, posterior fossa, ventricles, frontal cortex. Reference ranges may be used for establishment of risk factors. Abstract: Most mental disorders are now considered to have neurodevelopmental origins, with a growing body of research pointing to neural alterations that predate birth. However, lack of established methods for reliable investigation of fetal brain development has limited research into early neural vulnerability. Using a systematic approach and quantitative evaluation of study methodology, we review neurosonographic studies of fetal brain structure with objective quality measures. A total of 81 studies were identified. High quality studies were identified for measurement of the corpus callosum, cerebellum, vermis, ventricles and frontal cortex, with reference ranges provided to facilitate future clinical research. Fewer and lower quality studies were available for subcortical structures, prompting a need for further research to create reliable reference ranges. Development and adoption of reference ranges for fetal brain structures should facilitate future research in neurosonographic evaluation of fetal brain development and lead to a better understanding of neurodevelopmental risk and resilience processes for mental disorders.