Linking changes in sulcal morphometry to cognitive development from childhood to adolescence

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Abstract
Despite dynamic sulcal changes during youth paralleling skill development, the link between extended postnatal development and cognition remains underexplored. This study analyzes structural MRI data from 307 children (6-14 years), with longitudinal data (inter-scan interval ~1 year) available for a subset. Results reveal widespread cortical thinning, sulcal widening, and reductions in adjusted area and depth, following a chronological gradient where earliest-forming sulci undergo the most profound change. Longitudinal remodeling, rather than baseline morphometry, predicts cognitive gains. Specifically, working memory improvements are predicted by widening of the left calcarine and posterior intralingual sulci. In contrast, attention network maturation involves global changes, though executive control is specifically linked to left intraparietal sulcus widening. Gene enrichment analysis links these changes to synaptic processes. This study advances our understanding of the association between sulcal morphometry and cognitive function, elucidating potential mechanisms underlying brain development from childhood to adolescence.

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