NeuroImaging Lab, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy; Department of Information Engineering, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
Luca Casartelli
Theoretical and Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
Florian Montano
Diagnostic Imaging and Neuroradiology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
Stefania Conte
Psychology Department, State University of New York at Binghamton, New York, USA
Letizia Squarcina
Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Alessandra Bertoldo
Department of Information Engineering, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
Nivedita Agarwal
Diagnostic Imaging and Neuroradiology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
Paolo Brambilla
Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; corresponding author.
Denis Peruzzo
NeuroImaging Lab, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
Fetal brain development is a complex process involving different stages of growth and organization which are crucial for the development of brain circuits and neural connections. Fetal atlases and labeled datasets are promising tools to investigate prenatal brain development. They support the identification of atypical brain patterns, providing insights into potential early signs of clinical conditions. In a nutshell, prenatal brain imaging and post-processing via modern tools are a cutting-edge field that will significantly contribute to the advancement of our understanding of fetal development.In this work, we first provide terminological clarification for specific terms (i.e., “brain template” and “brain atlas”), highlighting potentially misleading interpretations related to inconsistent use of terms in the literature. We discuss the major structures and neurodevelopmental milestones characterizing fetal brain ontogenesis. Our main contribution is the systematic review of 18 prenatal brain atlases and 3 datasets. We also tangentially focus on clinical, research, and ethical implications of prenatal neuroimaging.
