Neuroscience 2004 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 116.14 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Evidence for the extreme-male theory of autism? A structural MRI examination of sexually dimorphic brain structures. |
| Authors: |
Weng, S.*1
; Ashwin, C.2,3
; Baron-Cohen, S.2,3
; Hutsler, J. J.1
1Psychol Dept, Univ Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 2United Kingdom, 525 East University Ave. Psychol Dept, 48109, 3Autism Res. Centre, 525 East University Ave. Psychol Dept, 48109, |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Neurological and Psychiatric Conditions - Psychiatric Disorders -- Autism/related disorders |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Cognition and Behavior<br />- Human Cognition, Behavior, and Anatomy<br />-- Anatomy |
| Session: |
116. Autism-Related Disorders I Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Saturday, October 23, 2004 2:00 PM-3:00 PM |
| Location: | San Diego Convention Center - Hall A-H, Board # BBB4 |
| Keywords: | Sex Differences, Caudate, Brain Imaging, Lateralization |
The extreme-male theory of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) contends that individuals with ASD have a “hyper-male?brain profile characterized behaviorally by increased “systematizing?and a decreased ability to “empathize?(Baron-Cohen, 2002). If the extreme-male theory is correct, one might expect to see evidence in brain structures that are known to be sexually dimorphic. The caudate nucleus has been shown to be smaller in males than females (Goldstein, 2001) and in the present study we utilized magnetic resonance images (MRI) to evaluate the volume of the caudate nucleus in males and females with ASD.
The caudate nucleus was measured bilaterally in control males (n=13), control females (n=13), males with ASD (n=10) and a smaller group of females with ASD (n=3). When normalized to whole brain volumes, the average caudates of the ASD groups were always relatively smaller than the control groups. ANOVA done on the average caudate size from the control males, control females, and ASD males showed only modest differences (F=2.590, df =2, p=.091), however the left caudates were significantly smaller in male subjects (F=4.3, df=2, p=.02), while no volumetric differences were found in the right caudates (F=1.1, df=2, p=.34).
For both right and left caudates the female controls were the largest, followed by the male controls, the female ASD group and, lastly, the male ASD group. Although this pattern is consistent with the extreme-male theory, it was only significant for the left caudate nucleus. The examination of additional sexually dimorphic structures may help to determine if the pattern of results found here is unique to the caudate nucleus or if it generalizes to other structures.
The caudate nucleus was measured bilaterally in control males (n=13), control females (n=13), males with ASD (n=10) and a smaller group of females with ASD (n=3). When normalized to whole brain volumes, the average caudates of the ASD groups were always relatively smaller than the control groups. ANOVA done on the average caudate size from the control males, control females, and ASD males showed only modest differences (F=2.590, df =2, p=.091), however the left caudates were significantly smaller in male subjects (F=4.3, df=2, p=.02), while no volumetric differences were found in the right caudates (F=1.1, df=2, p=.34).
For both right and left caudates the female controls were the largest, followed by the male controls, the female ASD group and, lastly, the male ASD group. Although this pattern is consistent with the extreme-male theory, it was only significant for the left caudate nucleus. The examination of additional sexually dimorphic structures may help to determine if the pattern of results found here is unique to the caudate nucleus or if it generalizes to other structures.
Supported by The National Alliance for Autism Research. CA & SB-C were supported by the Medical Research Council UK.
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2004 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2004. Online.
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