World's First Map of Normal Pediatric Brain Development Completed... "Foundation for Overcoming Pediatric Neurological Disorders"

Seongnam Seoul National University Hospital Professor Heonmin Kim's Team
Completes 'Brain Neural Physiological Connectivity Map'

Analyzes and Standardizes Efficient Growth Changes from Childhood to Adolescence in Normal Brain

Acts as 'Normal Control Group' by Comparing EEG Results
"Applicable to Epilepsy, Developmental Disorders, ADHD, etc."

Professor Heonmin Kim, Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Domestic researchers have succeeded for the first time in the world in analyzing changes in brain connectivity during the growth process of healthy normal children into adults.

Professor Kim Heon-min's research team from the Department of Pediatrics at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital announced on the 21st that they have completed the "Brain Neural Physiological Connectivity Map."

The research team classified 212 children without neurological disorders who underwent normal developmental processes by age and analyzed how the connections of brain neurons change during growth, creating the world's first brainwave-based brain neural physiological connectivity map of normal children.

Based on the six most important frequency bands used in brainwave analysis, the research team analyzed the changes in brain neural connectivity during normal brain maturation as age increased in the groups of ▲4?6 years ▲6?9 years ▲9?12 years ▲12?15 years ▲15?18 years. As a result, with increasing age, the connection strength between brain regions gradually increased, functions became more segregated, and the time to transmit information decreased.

Brain neural physiological connectivity map by age group. As maturation progresses from childhood to adolescence, connectivity with surrounding brain regions is strengthened. [Source=Bundang Seoul National University Hospital]

This result represents the process by which the normal brain becomes increasingly efficient during growth from childhood to adolescence, and it is significant in that it established a so-called "map" that standardizes the brain neural physiological connectivity of a normal control group, serving as a reference point for analyzing brainwave test results observed in various diseases.

The research team also confirmed that the change process in brain connectivity is most distinct in the alpha frequency band of 8?13 Hz. Based on this, if studies are conducted comparing brainwave test results of patients with brain diseases to those of normal groups in this frequency band, it is expected to enable more accurate diagnosis and treatment by identifying networks of neurons with connectivity problems.

Professor Kim explained, "Until now, there have been many difficulties in precisely interpreting brainwave test results due to the lack of indicators for normal control groups," adding, "The brain neural physiological connectivity map completed this time will solve this problem." He continued, "Currently, its applicability is highest in treatments related to seizures and epilepsy, which are closely associated with the electrical activity of neurons, but in the future, it is highly likely to be applied to various pediatric neurological disorders such as developmental disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder."

This research is part of the medical artificial intelligence development project "Dr. Answer 1.0," sponsored by the Ministry of Science and ICT and led by the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA). The research results were published in the recent issue of the internationally renowned journal "Journal of Clinical Neurology." Bundang Seoul National University Hospital is a major participating institution in the Dr. Answer 1.0 project and serves as the leading institution for the "Dr. Answer 2.0" project.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.