Corpus Callosum Area and Brain Volume in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Quantitative Analysis of Structural MRI from the ABIDE Database

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 45; no. 10; pp. 3107 - 3114
• Main Authors: Kucharsky Hiess, R., Alter, R., Sojoudi, S., Ardekani, B. A., Kuzniecky, R., Pardoe, H. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.10.2015; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorder - pathology; Autism Spectrum Disorder - physiopathology; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Brain; Brain Hemisphere Functions; Care and treatment; Case-Control Studies; Child and School Psychology; Comparative Analysis; Control Groups; Corpus Callosum - anatomy & histology; Corpus Callosum - physiology; Development and progression; Diagnosis; Diagnostic Tests; Experimental Groups; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Neurology; Neurosciences; Organ Size; Original Paper; Pediatrics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Psychology; Public Health; Sample Size; Statistical Analysis; Young Adult; United States; Neuroimaging; Volumetrics; Brain morphology; White matter
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2468-8

Reduced corpus callosum area and increased brain volume are two commonly reported findings in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We investigated these two correlates in ASD and healthy controls using T1-weighted MRI scans from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE). Automated methods were used to segment the corpus callosum and intracranial region. No difference in the corpus callosum area was found between ASD participants and healthy controls (ASD 598.53 ± 109 mm 2 ; control 596.82 ± 102 mm 2 ; p  = 0.76). The ASD participants had increased intracranial volume (ASD 1,508,596 ± 170,505 mm 3 ; control 1,482,732 ± 150,873.5 mm 3 ; p  = 0.042). No evidence was found for overall ASD differences in the corpus callosum subregions.