Very preterm birth (<33 weeks of gestation) has been associated with alterations in structural and functional brain development in regions that are believed to underlie a variety of cognitive processes. While such alterations have been often studied in the context of cognitive vulnerability, early disruption to programmed developmental processes may also lead to neuroplastic and functional adaptations, which support cognitive performance. In this review, we will focus on executive function and intelligence as the main cognitive outcomes following very preterm birth in adolescence and adulthood in relation to their structural and functional neurobiological correlates. The neuroimaging modalities we review provide quantitative assessments of brain morphology, white matter macro and micro-structure, structural and functional connectivity and haemodynamic responses associated with specific cognitive operations. Identifying the neurobiological underpinning of the long-term sequelae associated with very preterm birth may guide the development and implementation of targeted neurobehaviourally-informed interventions for those at high risk.

早产（小于33周的妊娠）与某些被认为是多种认知过程基础的区域的大脑结构和功能发育发生了变化。虽然经常在认知脆弱性的背景下研究此类改变，但对程序化发育过程的早期破坏也可能导致神经塑性和功能适应，从而支持认知表现。在这篇综述中，我们将专注于执行功能和智力，这是与结构和功能神经生物学相关的青春期和成年期早产后的主要认知结果。我们审查的神经影像学方法可以定量评估大脑的形态，白质的宏观和微观结构，与特定认知操作相关的结构和功能连接性以及血流动力学反应。识别与早产相关的长期后遗症的神经生物学基础可以指导高危人群制定和实施针对性的神经行为学信息干预。