The effect of the functional asymmetry of the brain on face morphometry in the university students of mathematics and painting department.

BACKGROUND: The face is a complicated structure configurations of which are originated and components integrated during the developmental stages. Almost the whole of face is formed by neural crest cells migrating from the edge of the cranial neural folds to the pharyngeal arcus. Brain is an asymmetric organ both functionally and anatomically. While the left hemisphere is dominant in processing the verbal, mathematical and logical information, the right hemisphere is dominant in processing the perceptual, visible, spatial and artistic information. The functional differences in the left and right brain hemispheres might also cause differences in facial regions developing from the same centres as telencephalon during embryonic period. Therefore; we aimed to perform linear anthropometric measurements and determine whether functional asymmetry of brain creates any change in facial linear measurements, on the faces of students of painting and mathematics departments whose skills are different from each other. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed on 212 students. A total numer of 22 measurements from 17 anthropometric points for each student were done. Measurements were carried out between November 2011 and February 2012. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that there were statistically significant differences between two student groups in the face width, intercanthal distance, mandibular width, nose width, upper lip height and philtrum length. The comparison of genders revealed that there were statistically significant differences between all measured parameters. In addition, all students from both departments had euryprosopic face type when face type points were compared. CONCLUSIONS: Those differences might be related to the functional asymmetry of brain. Therefore it could be suggested that the functional asymmetry of brain could cause an asymmetry in the face as well as in the linear anthropometric measurements.

The relationship between the carrying angle and the distal extent of the 2nd and 4th fingertips.

The angle towards the lateral side between the arm and forearm when the forearm is in full extension and supination is defined as the carrying angle. It is well known that the 2nd finger is longer in women whereas the 4th finger is longer in men, due to in-utero hormonal effects. In the present study, the relationship between the carrying angle and the distal extent of the 2nd and 4th fingertips is studied. The findings reveal that the carrying angle was greater both in left and right sides in women than in men. In addition, while the distal extent of the 2nd fingertips was longer in women, the 4th fingertip was longer in men. There was a moderately positive correlation between the carrying angle and the distal fingertip lengths. Therefore, it could be suggested that the morphometric factors play role on the distal extent of the fingertips other than the hormonal effects.

Determination of cerebellar volume in children and adolescents with magnetic resonance images.

Recent studies show that the cerebellum contributes to higher cognitive functions as well as its role on motor system. It is thought that higher cognitive functions continue to develop during childhood and adolescence; therefore, cerebellum develops significantly during these periods. For that reason, this study was carried out in order to determine cerebellar volumes of 90 healthy individuals (40 males, 50 females) aged between 6 and 17 years according to their gender. The individuals were divided into three age groups of 6-9, 10- -13, and 14-17 years, and their cerebellar volumes were found by means of stereological methods using their magnetic resonance images. The cerebellar volumes found were compared among the groups without discriminating genders, among groups according to gender, and again according to gender within each age group. The general average cerebellar volume of the age group 10-13 years was significantly higher than the other two age groups(p 〈 0.05). When the groups were compared according to gender, there was no important difference between the groups in women (p 〉 0.05); as for men, cerebellar volume only in the age group 10-13 years was significantly higher than that in age group 6-9 (p 〈 0.05). When cerebellar volume for ages 6-17 years was compared according to gender (without dividing into age group) there was no significant difference between men and women (p 〉 0.05). It was seen that the cerebellum develops from childhood to adolescence, and reaches peak levels between the ages 10-13 years for both genders.