Open AccessAltered cortical thickness following prenatal sodium valproate exposure
Author(s) -
Wood Amanda G.,
Chen Jian,
Barton Sarah,
Nadebaum Caroline,
Anderson Vicki A.,
Catroppa Cathy,
Reutens David C.,
O'Brien Terence J.,
Vajda Frank
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
annals of clinical and translational neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.824
H-Index - 42
ISSN - 2328-9503
DOI - 10.1002/acn3.74
Subject(s) - medicine , inferior frontal gyrus , prenatal exposure , typically developing , fetus , endocrinology , pregnancy , psychiatry , gestation , cognition , autism , biology , genetics
Prenatal exposure to sodium valproate ( VPA ) is associated with neurodevelopmental impairments. Cortical thickness was measured in 16 children exposed prenatally to VPA and 16 controls. We found increased left inferior frontal gyrus ( IFG ; BA 45) and left pericalcarine sulcus ( BA 18) thickness, an association between VPA dose and right IFG thickness, and a close relationship between verbal skills and left IFG thickness. A significant interaction between group and hemispheric IFG thickness showed absence of the normal asymmetry in the IFG region of VPA ‐exposed children. These data provide preliminary insights into the putative neural basis of difficulties experienced by some VPA ‐exposed children.