Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42036941›Full record

SynthesisActa paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)2026

Regional Brain Volume Differences Were Associated With Behavioural Outcomes in Children Born Preterm: A Systematic Review.

Yolanda Marín Almagro, Macarena Román Ruiz, Natalia Jiménez Luque, Manuel Lubián Gutiérrez, Simón P Lubián López, Isabel Benavente Fernández

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Yolanda Marín AlmagroBiomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cádiz (INiBICA) Research Unit, Puerta del Mar University Hospital, Cádiz, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7520-0854
Macarena Román RuizBiomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cádiz (INiBICA) Research Unit, Puerta del Mar University Hospital, Cádiz, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7240-9589
Natalia Jiménez LuqueBiomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cádiz (INiBICA) Research Unit, Puerta del Mar University Hospital, Cádiz, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8781-6464
Manuel Lubián GutiérrezBiomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cádiz (INiBICA) Research Unit, Puerta del Mar University Hospital, Cádiz, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3970-3833
Simón P Lubián LópezBiomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cádiz (INiBICA) Research Unit, Puerta del Mar University Hospital, Cádiz, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2937-778X
Isabel Benavente FernándezBiomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cádiz (INiBICA) Research Unit, Puerta del Mar University Hospital, Cádiz, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9276-1912

Funding

Fundación Alicia Koplowitz
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimThis systematic review explored associations between brain structural volumes and behavioural outcomes in children born preterm up to 32 weeks of gestation.

methodsPubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science were searched for papers published in English from 1 January 2013 to 7 November 2023. Studies were included if they examined brain volumetric measures using magnetic resonance imaging and behavioural outcomes from 24 months to 12 years.

resultsThe search identified 388 records and eight were included. These covered 564 children born at 27-36 weeks, 55.7% of whom were male, with assessments conducted between 2.9 and 10.2 years of age. Three studies were conducted in USA, two in Sweden and one each in Norway, Australia and Switzerland. The findings indicated a higher prevalence of neurodevelopmental and emotional outcomes among children born preterm, particularly autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and anxiety symptoms. These outcomes were associated with reduced or altered volumes in limbic and subcortical brain regions, such as the amygdala and thalamus.

conclusionVolumetric brain differences were associated with behavioural outcomes and may have reflected early neurobiological vulnerability to later behavioural and emotional difficulties. These findings support early identification of children at risk and targeted intervention strategies.

Indexed as

BrainChild BehaviorInfant, PrematureChildChild, PreschoolHumansInfant, NewbornMagnetic Resonance ImagingOrgan Sizebehavioural outcomesbrain volumemagnetic resonance imagingpreterm birth

Identifiers

PMID42036941
PMCPMC13371856

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.