Smaller splenium in children with nonverbal learning disability compared to controls, high-functioning autism and ADHD.
The current study investigated morphological differences in the corpus callosum in children ages 8 to 18 years old with nonverbal learning disability (NLD; n = 19), high-functioning autism (HFA; n = 23), predominantly inattentive ADHD (ADHD:PI; n = 23), and combined type ADHD (ADHD:C; n = 25), as well as those demonstrating typical development (n = 57). Midsagittal area of the corpus callosum and five midsagittal anterior-to-posterior corpus callosum segments were examined using magnetic resonance imaging. Controlling for midsagittal brain area and age, no group differences were found for total corpus callosum area. This finding indicates that higher functioning children on the autistic spectrum do not have smaller corpus callosi as has been found in previous research with heterogeneous samples. Following segmentation of the corpus callosum, the NLD group was observed to have significantly smaller splenia compared to all other groups. Smaller splenia in the NLD group was associated with lower WASI PIQ scores but not WASI VIQ scores. Children with HFA were observed to have larger midbody areas than children with NLD and neurotypically developing children. Children with HFA and NLD demonstrated behavioral symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity similar to the ADHD groups indicating that corpus callosum differences seen in the NLD and HFA groups are not related to these behaviors.
a Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education , Michigan State University , East Lansing , MI 48824 USA.
Jodene Goldenring
JG
Fine
Kayla A
KA
Musielak
Margaret
M
Semrud-Clikeman
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000473:pathology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size
ADHD; Asperger; Corpus callosum; High functioning autism; MRI; Nonverbal learning disorder; Splenium