cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and tobacco from fMRI and MRS studies, perhaps suggesting mechanisms of neural plasticity and brain recovery. Thus, neuroimaging in children with prenatal drug exposure may be an opportunity to study mechanisms of brain adaptation in addition to deficits. The alcohol literature offers additional insight into this approach showing involvement of specific brain regions with sparing of other areas, demonstrating that not all brain regions may be equally vulnerable to its detrimental effects. Tobacco also appears to have brain regional and gender specificity, with the female fetus being more affected than male fetus. The study of drug by gender interactions could indicate specific biological processes that are affected.
