This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hardan, A. Y. Articles by Minshew, N. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hardan, A. Y. Articles by Minshew, N. J. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of the Orbitofrontal Cortex in Autism

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, hardanay{at}upmc.edu

Ragy R. Girgis, MD

Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA

Acioly L.T. Lacerda, MD, PhD

Department of Medical Psychology and Psychiatry, School of Medicale Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil

Ozgur Yorbik, MD

GATA Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Etlik Ankara, Turkey

Megan Kilpatrick, MD

Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA

Matcheri S. Keshavan, MD

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Wayne State School of Medicine, Detroit, MI

Nancy J. Minshew, MD

Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA

The orbitofrontal cortex is involved in multiple psychologic functions, such as emotional and cognitive processing, learning, and social behavior. These functions are variably impaired in individuals with autism. The present study examined the size of the orbitofrontal cortex, and its medial and lateral subdivisions, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans obtained from 40 non—mentally retarded individuals with autism and 41 healthy controls. No differences were observed between the two groups on any of the orbitofrontal cortex measurements. However, when compared with controls, a smaller right lateral orbitofrontal cortex was observed in children and adolescents with autism, whereas a larger right lateral orbitofrontal cortex was found in adult patients. Interestingly, a positive relationship was found in the patient group between circumscribed interests and all orbitofrontal cortex structures. The present study suggests the absence of global volumetric abnormalities in the orbitofrontal cortex in autism and indicates that the functional disturbances in this structure might not be related to anatomic alterations. (J Child Neurol 2006;21:866—871; DOI 10.2310/ 7010.2006.00199).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				I. A. J. van Kooten, S. J. M. C. Palmen, P. von Cappeln, H. W. M. Steinbusch, H. Korr, H. Heinsen, P. R. Hof, H. van Engeland, and C. Schmitz Neurons in the fusiform gyrus are fewer and smaller in autism Brain, April 1, 2008; 131(4): 987 - 999. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]