Brain Morphology in Autism and Fragile X Syndrome Correlates With Social IQ: First Report From the Canadian-Swiss-Egyptian Neurodevelopmental Study

Fragile X syndrome shares most of the behavioral phenotypic similarities with autism. How are these similarities reflected in brain morphology? A total of 10 children with autism and 7 with fragile X underwent morphological (T1) 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The authors found no significan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of child neurology 2010-05, Vol.25 (5), p.599-608
Main Authors: Meguid, Nagwa, Fahim, Cherine, Yoon, Uicheul, Nashaat, Neveen H., Ibrahim, Ahmed S., Mancini-Marie, Adham, Brandner, Catherine, Evans, Alan C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Autistic Disorder - pathology
Brain - pathology
Canada
Child
Child, Preschool
Egypt
Emotional Intelligence
Female
Fragile X Syndrome - pathology
Gyrus Cinguli - pathology
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Neuropsychological Tests
Organ Size
Prefrontal Cortex - pathology
Regression Analysis
Switzerland
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Summary:Fragile X syndrome shares most of the behavioral phenotypic similarities with autism. How are these similarities reflected in brain morphology? A total of 10 children with autism and 7 with fragile X underwent morphological (T1) 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The authors found no significant difference in total brain volumes, regional volumes, gyrification index, sulcul depth, and cerebral cortical thickness. However, children with autism showed significant decrease in the medial prefrontal bilaterally and the left anterior cingulate cortices. Regression analysis revealed positive correlation between the medial prefrontal cortical thickness and the social IQ. The authors suggest that the difference between the 2 groups in the medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices thickness may entail an altered social cognitive style. Functional MRI studies directly differentiating between social indifference (autism) and social avoidance (fragile X) are needed to further characterize the spectrum of social abnormalities between these 2 groups.
ISSN:0883-0738
1708-8283
DOI:10.1177/0883073809341670