Exploring the role of HPG axis and age on the brain of peripubertal girls - a multimodal fusion imaging study using LICA

Motivation: The role of age in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG axis) reactivation on brain changes in girls remains unclear. Goal(s): The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of HPG axis reactivation on the brains of girls of different ages through a multimodal perspective. Approach: We used linked independent component analysis to decompose the girls' multimodal brain images and combined clinical hormones and age. Results: We captured a multimodal component strongly associated with HPG reactivation, which includes structural and functional changes, mainly related to peak LH levels. Also, the degree of change in this multimodal component increased with age. Impact: Our study may provide a new idea for subsequent brain studies concerning the reactivation of the HPG axis and a new direction for further exploration of the physiological mechanisms associated with pubertal brain development.