Neuroscience 2000 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 32.10 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Mapping callosal morphology and neurocognitive correlates in individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure. |
| Authors: |
Sowell, E. R.*1
; Mattson, S. N.4
; Thompson, P. M.1
; Jernigan, T. L.2,3
; Riley, E. P.4
; Toga, A. W.1
1Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 2Psychiatry, UCSD, La Jolla, CA 3DVAMC, La Jolla, CA 4Psychology, SDSU, San Diego, CA |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
A. Development and Regeneration - 24. Developmental disorders |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | J. Disorders of the Nervous System and Aging<br />- 143. Drugs of abuse: alcohol, barbiturates and benzodiazepines |
| Session: |
32. Developmental disorders III Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Sunday, November 5, 2000 9:00 AM-10:00 AM |
| Location: | Hall G-J |
| Keywords: | mri, verbal learning, fetal alcohol syndrome, imaging |
Abnormalities of the corpus callosum (CC) have been observed in fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), from subtle size reductions to complete agenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate abnormalities not only in the size of the CC, but also in its shape and location within the brains of FAS subjects, and individuals prenatally exposed to alcohol but without FAS (PEA group). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and surface-based image analytic methods were used to study the CC in twenty alcohol-exposed subjects (ALC; 7 with PEA and 13 with FAS; age 8 to 22 years) and 21 controls (8 to 25 years). Measures of verbal learning and visuospatial abilities were also acquired. Results indicate that in addition to CC area reductions most severe in the splenium, the CC is significantly displaced in the ALC group, lying more anterior and inferior, 5 to 7 mm out of place in posterior regions. These findings are robust in the FAS patients, and a similar, but less severe pattern is observed in the PEA group. Notably, the amount of CC displacement is highly correlated with verbal learning ability, and CC displacement is a better predictor of verbal learning than regional CC area. This brain-behavior relationship is only significant in the ALC group and is not mediated by IQ differences. These results further emphasize the vulnerability of midline brain structures to prenatal alcohol exposure and show that brain dysmorphology is related to the cognitive impairment observed in the ALC patients both with and without FAS.
Supported by NCRR P41 RR13642, NINDS NS3753, NIAAA AA 10417, and AA 10820.
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2000 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. New Orleans, LA: Society for Neuroscience, 2000. Online.
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