Differential patterns of cortical expansion in fetal and preterm brain development

The human cerebral cortex undergoes a complex developmental process during gestation, characterised by rapid cortical expansion and gyrification. This study investigates in vivo cortical growth trajectories using longitudinal MRI data from fetal and preterm cohorts. We employed anatomically constrained multimodal surface matching (aMSM) to quantify cortical surface area expansion and compare in-utero versus ex-utero cortical growth using cortical surface data from 22 to 44 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA), acquired as part of the Developing Human Connectome Project (dHCP). Our findings revealed distinct regional and temporal growth patterns during the 2nd and 3rdrd trimesters of healthy fetal cortical expansion. Ex utero brain development following preterm birth was shown to follow a modified trajectory compared to normal gestation, with potential implications for cortical organisation. Our methodology, combining biomechanically constrained surface registration with high quality fetal and neonatal imaging, provides a powerful framework for understanding early cortical development and deviations associated with preterm birth.