title: Three-dimensional mapping of the lateral ventricles in autism.
abstract: In this study, a computational mapping technique was used to examine the three-dimensional profile of the lateral ventricles in autism. T1-weighted three-dimensional magnetic resonance images of the brain were acquired from 20 males with autism (age: 10.1+/-3.5 years) and 22 male control subjects (age: 10.7+/-2.5 years). The lateral ventricles were delineated manually and ventricular volumes were compared between the two groups. Ventricular traces were also converted into statistical three-dimensional maps, based on anatomical surface meshes. These maps were used to visualize regional morphological differences in the thickness of the lateral ventricles between patients and controls. Although ventricular volumes measured using traditional methods did not differ significantly between groups, statistical surface maps revealed subtle, highly localized reductions in ventricular size in patients with autism in the left frontal and occipital horns. These localized reductions in the lateral ventricles may result from exaggerated brain growth early in life.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Brain Mapping Division, Department Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Christine N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nicolson
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Boire
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barra
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: DeVito
authors.forename: Kiralee M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Geaga
authors.forename: Dick J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Drost
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Nagalingam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rajakumar
authors.forename: Arthur W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Toga
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D020547:Lateral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D012016:Reference Values