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Neuropediatrics 1989; 20(3): 142-146
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1071280
Original article

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Autism: Preliminary Report

T.  Hashimoto , M.  Tayama , K.  Mori , K.  Fujino , M.  Miyazaki , Y.  Kuroda
  • Department of Pediatrics, University of Tokushima School of Medicine, Kuramoto-cho 3, Tokushima 770, Japan
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Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

MRI was performed for 18 autistic patients, 11 patients with uncomplicated mental retardation (MR) and 18 controls. In autism and MR, an altered left/right relationship of the frontal lobe volume was observed. The altered asymmetry was more severe in autism than in MR. The brain stem was smaller in MR than in the controls, and the right operculum was smaller in MR than in autism. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that some autisms may involve a type of early developmental abnormality. Furthermore, our results suggest that autism may involve a type of structural brain impairment different from MR.

Key words

Autism - Mental retardation - Magnetic resonance imaging - Brain stem