Development of the prefrontal lobe in infants and children: a three-dimensional magnetic resonance volumetric study

Relatively little is known about normal prefrontal lobe development. We used three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based brain volumetry to characterize developmental changes in prefrontal lobe volumes in infants and children. Prefrontal volumes were determined in 30 subjects aged 5 months to 18 years (221 months) and 3 adults aged 28-39 years (324-468 months). Images were acquired on a 1.5-T MRI system using T1-weighted gradient-echo sequences. Volumes of the frontal and prefrontal lobes were determined using a workstation, and the prefrontal-to-frontal volume ratio was calculated. Prefrontal lobe volume increased slowly until 8 years (96 months) of age, contrasting sharply with rapid growth between 8 and 14 years (96 and 168 months). The prefrontal-to-frontal volume ratio increased with age as a sigmoid growth curve. A prefrontal growth spurt occurs in late childhood. Knowledge of prefrontal lobe development is essential for understanding cognitive development and dysfunction.