title: Callosal morphology in Williams syndrome: a new evaluation of shape and thickness.
abstract: We applied novel mesh-based geometrical modeling methods to calculate and compare the thickness of the corpus callosum at high spatial resolution and to create profiles of average callosal shape in a well-matched sample (n=24) of individuals with Williams syndrome and controls. In close agreement with previous observations, superimposed surface maps indicate that the corpus callosum in Williams syndrome individuals is shorter and less curved. Moreover, we observed significantly thinner callosal regions in Williams syndrome individuals across the posterior surface, where group effects were less pronounced and spatially restricted in brain-size-adjusted data compared with native data. Circumscribed structural alterations in callosal morphology might be candidate anatomic substrates for the unique cognitive and behavioral profile associated with Williams syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Department of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90095-7334, USA, and IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Luders
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Paola
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomaiuolo
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Arthur W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Toga
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vicari
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrides
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caltagirone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D061085:Agenesis of Corpus Callosum; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009421:Nervous System Malformations / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000503:physiopathology; D018980:Williams Syndrome / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology