BACKGROUND: Volumetric studies have reported reductions in the size of the corpus callosum (CC) in autism, but the callosal regions contributing to this deficit have differed among studies. In this study, a computational method was used to detect and map the spatial pattern of CC abnormalities in male patients with autism. METHODS: Twenty-four boys with autism (aged 10.0 +/- 3.3 years) and 26 control boys (aged 11.0 +/- 2.5 years) underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan at 3 Tesla. Total and regional areas of the CC were determined using traditional morphometric methods. Three-dimensional (3D) surface models of the CC were also created from the MRI scans. Statistical maps were created to visualize morphologic variability of the CC and to localize regions of callosal thinning in autism. RESULTS: Traditional morphometric methods detected a significant reduction in the total callosal area and in the anterior third of the CC in patients with autism; however, 3D maps revealed significant reductions in both the splenium and genu of the CC in patients. CONCLUSIONS: Statistical maps of the CC revealed callosal deficits in autism with greater precision than traditional morphometric methods. These abnormalities suggest aberrant connections between cortical regions, which is consistent with the hypothesis of abnormal cortical connectivity in autism.
BACKGROUND: Volumetric studies have reported reductions in the size of the corpus callosum (CC) in autism, but the callosal regions contributing to this deficit have differed among studies. In this study, a computational method was used to detect and map the spatial pattern of CC abnormalities in male patients with autism. METHODS: Twenty-four boys with autism (aged 10.0 +/- 3.3 years) and 26 control boys (aged 11.0 +/- 2.5 years) underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan at 3 Tesla. Total and regional areas of the CC were determined using traditional morphometric methods. Three-dimensional (3D) surface models of the CC were also created from the MRI scans. Statistical maps were created to visualize morphologic variability of the CC and to localize regions of callosal thinning in autism. RESULTS: Traditional morphometric methods detected a significant reduction in the total callosal area and in the anterior third of the CC in patients with autism; however, 3D maps revealed significant reductions in both the splenium and genu of the CC in patients. CONCLUSIONS: Statistical maps of the CC revealed callosal deficits in autism with greater precision than traditional morphometric methods. These abnormalities suggest aberrant connections between cortical regions, which is consistent with the hypothesis of abnormal cortical connectivity in autism.
Authors: Brittany G Travers; Nagesh Adluru; Chad Ennis; Do P M Tromp; Dan Destiche; Sam Doran; Erin D Bigler; Nicholas Lange; Janet E Lainhart; Andrew L Alexander Journal: Autism Res Date: 2012-07-11 Impact factor: 5.216
Authors: J L Allen; G Oberdorster; K Morris-Schaffer; C Wong; C Klocke; M Sobolewski; K Conrad; M Mayer-Proschel; D A Cory-Slechta Journal: Neurotoxicology Date: 2015-12-22 Impact factor: 4.294
Authors: Martina Ballmaier; Anand Kumar; Virginia Elderkin-Thompson; Katherine L Narr; Eileen Luders; Paul M Thompson; Cornelius Hojatkashani; Daniel Pham; Andreas Heinz; Arthur W Toga Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology Date: 2007-08-22 Impact factor: 7.853
Authors: Andrew H Fairless; Holly C Dow; Monica M Toledo; Kristen A Malkus; Michele Edelmann; Hongzhe Li; Konrad Talbot; Steven E Arnold; Ted Abel; Edward S Brodkin Journal: Brain Res Date: 2008-07-15 Impact factor: 3.252
Authors: J D Bonita; L C C Ambolode; B M Rosenberg; C J Cellucci; T A A Watanabe; P E Rapp; A M Albano Journal: Cogn Neurodyn Date: 2013-09-04 Impact factor: 5.082