Background
Autism is defined by three symptom clusters, including repetitive and stereotyped
behavior. Previous studies have implicated basal ganglia in these behaviors. Earlier
studies investigating basal ganglia in autism have included subjects on neuroleptics
known to affect basal ganglia volumes. Therefore, we investigated these structures
in medication-naive subjects with autism.
Methods
Volumetric magnetic resonance measures of caudate, putamen, and nucleus accumbens
were compared in two independent samples of medication-naive, high-functioning subjects
with autism or Asperger syndrome: 1) 21 affected children and adolescents and 21 matched
control subjects; and 2) 21 affected adolescents and young adults and 21 matched control
subjects.
Results
Caudate nucleus was enlarged in both samples. This result remained significant after
correction for total brain volume.
Conclusions
These results implicate caudate nucleus in autism, as an enlargement of this structure
was disproportional to an increase in total brain volume in two independent samples
of medication-naive subjects with autism.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 17, 2007
Accepted:
September 28,
2006
Received in revised form:
September 27,
2006
Received:
May 9,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
