Neurologic abnormalities in infantile autism

Author(s): Townsend, J., Courchesne, E., Lincoln, A. J., Schreibman, L., Yeungcourchesne, R.

Journal/Book: J Child Neurol. 1996; 11: 4 Hughson St, PO Box 620, LCD 1, Hamilton on L8N 3K7, Canada. Decker Periodicals Inc. 84-92.

Abstract: Neuroanatomic, pathologic, and neurobehavioral studies point to a cerebellar and parietal abnormality in autism. We used a standardized protocol to examine neurologic function in 28 pediatric autistic subjects and 24 pediatric normal healthy volunteer controls. As a group, the autistic subjects had quantitative measures from magnetic resonance imaging suggesting hypoplasia or hyperplasia of the cerebellar vermis, as well as measurements of posterior corpus callosum suggesting abnormalities of posterior cortex. In groups of tests that reflect cerebellar and parietal function, the neurologic abnormalities detectable by clinical examination were significantly greater for autistic subjects than for normal controls. These studies confirm that the structural and behavioral deficit in autism does lead to abnormalities that can be detected on the clinical neurologic examination.

Note: Article E Courchesne, Childrens Hosp, Autism & Brain Dev Res Lab, 8110 La Jolla Shores Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA

Keyword(s): POSTERIOR-FOSSA; CHILDREN; BEHAVIOR; BRAIN; HYPOPLASIA; CEREBELLUM

Zurück | Weiter