1The
University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; 2Novita
Children's Services, Adelaide, Australia; 3The University of
Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; 4The Australian E-Health Research
Centre, CSIRO, Brisbane, Australia
Preterm birth is associated with a high prevalence of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome. We used diffusion MRI and T2 relaxometry to assess alterations in cortico-cortical connectivity in the preterm brain at term equivalent age. Cortical networks associated with affected connections mainly involved left frontal and motor cortical areas. Identified cortical regions are associated with higher cognitive function, working memory, language production, verbal comprehension, executive function and motor function, deficits in which are often observed in children and adults born preterm.