Corpus Callosum Morphometry in High Functioning Autism

OBJECTIVE: Mapping corpus callosum deficits in high functioning autism (HFA). METHOD: Seventeen children with HFA and sixteen typically developing (TD) children-underwent a 3D T1-weighted scan. Global and regional corpus callosum volume and density measures were compared between groups. RESULTS. Reduced density of the anterior third region in HFA compared with TD children was found This difference remained when covaried for IQ or cerebral volume. While when covaried for age, the significant effect of anterior third disappeared. CC volumes were positively correlated with IQ in the posterior midbody and isthmus in TD group. CC volumes were negatively correlated with severity of symptoms in HFA group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that anterior third region was most affected in HFA children and related to severity of symptoms, which is consistent with the hypothesis of cortical underconnectivity in autism.