Corpus callosum area and brain volume in autism spectrum disorder: quantitative analysis of structural MRI from the ABIDE database.

Abstract

Reduced corpus callosum area and increased brain volume are two commonly reported findings in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We investigated these two correlates in ASD and healthy controls using T1-weighted MRI scans from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE). Automated methods were used to segment the corpus callosum and intracranial region. No difference in the corpus callosum area was found between ASD participants and healthy controls (ASD 598.53±109mm(2); control 596.82±102mm(2); p=0.76). The ASD participants had increased intracranial volume (ASD 1,508,596±170,505mm(3); control 1,482,732±150,873.5mm(3); p=0.042). No evidence was found for overall ASD differences in the corpus callosum subregions.