Towards a neuroanatomy of autism: a systematic review and meta-analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging studies

A. C. Stanfield; A. M. McIntosh; M. D. Spencer; R. Phillip; S. Gaur; S. M. Lawrie

doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2007.05.006

Towards a neuroanatomy of autism: a systematic review and meta-analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging studies

A. C. Stanfield, A. M. McIntosh, M. D. Spencer, R. Phillip, S. Gaur, S. M. Lawrie

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background. - Structural brain abnormalities have been described in autism but studies are often small and contradictory. We aimed to identify which brain regions can reliably be regarded as different in autism compared to healthy controls.

Method. - A systematic search was conducted for magnetic resonance imaging studies of regional brain size in autism. Data were extracted and combined using random effects meta-analysis. The modifying effects of age and IQ were investigated using meta-regression.

Results. - The total brain, cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum and caudate nucleus were increased in volume, whereas the corpus callosurn area was reduced. There was evidence for a modifying effect of age and IQ on the cerebellar vermal lobules VI-VII and for age on the arnygdala.

Conclusions. - Autism may result from abnormalities in specific brain regions and a global lack of integration due to brain enlargement. Inconsistencies in the literature partly relate to differences in the age and IQ of study populations. Some regions may show abnormal growth trajectories. (c) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	289-299
Number of pages	11
Journal	European Psychiatry
Volume	23
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2007.05.006
Publication status	Published - 2008

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title = "Towards a neuroanatomy of autism: a systematic review and meta-analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging studies",

abstract = "Background. - Structural brain abnormalities have been described in autism but studies are often small and contradictory. We aimed to identify which brain regions can reliably be regarded as different in autism compared to healthy controls. Method. - A systematic search was conducted for magnetic resonance imaging studies of regional brain size in autism. Data were extracted and combined using random effects meta-analysis. The modifying effects of age and IQ were investigated using meta-regression. Results. - The total brain, cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum and caudate nucleus were increased in volume, whereas the corpus callosurn area was reduced. There was evidence for a modifying effect of age and IQ on the cerebellar vermal lobules VI-VII and for age on the arnygdala. Conclusions. - Autism may result from abnormalities in specific brain regions and a global lack of integration due to brain enlargement. Inconsistencies in the literature partly relate to differences in the age and IQ of study populations. Some regions may show abnormal growth trajectories. (c) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.",

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doi = "10.1016/j.eurpsy.2007.05.006",

language = "English",

volume = "23",

pages = "289--299",

journal = "European Psychiatry",

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T1 - Towards a neuroanatomy of autism: a systematic review and meta-analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging studies

AU - Stanfield, A. C.

AU - McIntosh, A. M.

AU - Spencer, M. D.

AU - Phillip, R.

AU - Gaur, S.

AU - Lawrie, S. M.

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - Background. - Structural brain abnormalities have been described in autism but studies are often small and contradictory. We aimed to identify which brain regions can reliably be regarded as different in autism compared to healthy controls. Method. - A systematic search was conducted for magnetic resonance imaging studies of regional brain size in autism. Data were extracted and combined using random effects meta-analysis. The modifying effects of age and IQ were investigated using meta-regression. Results. - The total brain, cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum and caudate nucleus were increased in volume, whereas the corpus callosurn area was reduced. There was evidence for a modifying effect of age and IQ on the cerebellar vermal lobules VI-VII and for age on the arnygdala. Conclusions. - Autism may result from abnormalities in specific brain regions and a global lack of integration due to brain enlargement. Inconsistencies in the literature partly relate to differences in the age and IQ of study populations. Some regions may show abnormal growth trajectories. (c) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

AB - Background. - Structural brain abnormalities have been described in autism but studies are often small and contradictory. We aimed to identify which brain regions can reliably be regarded as different in autism compared to healthy controls. Method. - A systematic search was conducted for magnetic resonance imaging studies of regional brain size in autism. Data were extracted and combined using random effects meta-analysis. The modifying effects of age and IQ were investigated using meta-regression. Results. - The total brain, cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum and caudate nucleus were increased in volume, whereas the corpus callosurn area was reduced. There was evidence for a modifying effect of age and IQ on the cerebellar vermal lobules VI-VII and for age on the arnygdala. Conclusions. - Autism may result from abnormalities in specific brain regions and a global lack of integration due to brain enlargement. Inconsistencies in the literature partly relate to differences in the age and IQ of study populations. Some regions may show abnormal growth trajectories. (c) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

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U2 - 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2007.05.006

DO - 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2007.05.006

M3 - Article

SN - 0924-9338

VL - 23

SP - 289

EP - 299

JO - European Psychiatry

JF - European Psychiatry

IS - 4

ER -

Towards a neuroanatomy of autism: a systematic review and meta-analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging studies

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