Prefrontal and occipital asymmetry and volume in boys with autism spectrum disorder.
Cogn Behav Neurol
; 25(4): 186-94, 2012 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23277139
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To examine prefrontal and occipital asymmetry (brain torque) in boys with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and controls. A secondary aim was to study age-related changes in gray and white matter volume.BACKGROUND:
Several studies have found atypical early cortical development in ASD. Atypical brain torque, defined as a greater-than-normal left prefrontal and right occipital asymmetry, has been found in some studies of children and adults with ASD. This configuration may be an early neural marker of ASD risk.METHODS:
We studied 24 right-handed boys with ASD and 27 typically developing right-handed boys, 7 to 15 years old, obtaining neuropsychological profiles and measuring prefrontal and occipital volumes on magnetic resonance images.RESULTS:
Most participants had the expected rightward prefrontal and leftward occipital asymmetry, with no group differences in direction or degree of asymmetry. We found a trend toward larger prefrontal volume in the ASD group than in the controls. The controls also had a trend toward differences in age associations, correlating with total and left prefrontal white matter volumes.CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings suggest that atypical brain torque may not be a neural signature of ASD, although our sample was limited to high-functioning, right-handed boys. Our results provide support for aberrant cortical development in ASD, continuing into adolescence, with prefrontal regions being disproportionally affected.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Transtornos Globais do Desenvolvimento Infantil
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Córtex Pré-Frontal
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Lateralidade Funcional
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Lobo Occipital
Limite:
Adolescent
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Child
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Humans
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Male
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2012
Tipo de documento:
Article