Population neuroimaging: generation of a comprehensive data resource within the ALSPAC pregnancy and birth cohort

Wellcome Open Res. 2020 Aug 28:5:203. doi: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16060.1. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Neuroimaging offers a valuable insight into human brain development by allowing in vivo assessment of structure, connectivity and function. Multimodal neuroimaging data have been obtained as part of three sub-studies within the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a prospective multigenerational pregnancy and birth cohort based in the United Kingdom. Brain imaging data were acquired when offspring were between 18 and 24 years of age, and included acquisition of structural, functional and magnetization transfer magnetic resonance, diffusion tensor, and magnetoencephalography imaging. This resource provides a unique opportunity to combine neuroimaging data with extensive phenotypic and genotypic measures from participants, their mothers, and fathers.

Keywords: ALSPAC; MRI; birth cohort; brain function; brain morphology; neurodevelopment; neuroimaging; population health.