This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Abstract
Objective: To determine whether differences exist in the configuration of minicolumns between the brains of autistic and control patients.
Background: Autism is a severe and pervasive developmental disturbance of childhood characterized by disturbances in both social interactions and communication, as well as stereotyped patterns of interests, activities, and behaviors. Postmortem neuropathologic studies remain inconclusive.
Methods: The authors used a computerized imaging program to measure details of cell column morphologic features in area 9 of the prefrontal cortex and areas 21 and posterior 22 (Tpt) within the temporal lobe of nine brains of autistic patients and controls.
Results: The authors found significant differences between brains of autistic patients and controls in the number of minicolumns, in the horizontal spacing that separates cell columns, and in their internal structure, that is, relative dispersion of cells. Specifically, cell columns in brains of autistic patients were more numerous, smaller, and less compact in their cellular configuration with reduced neuropil space in the periphery.
Conclusions: In autism, there are minicolumnar abnormalities in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.
- Received November 27, 2000.
- Accepted October 11, 2001.
AAN Members: Sign in with your AAN member credentials (e-mail or 6-digit Member ID number)
Non-AAN Member subscribers: Sign in with subscriber credentials
Log in using your username and password
Purchase access
Disputes & Debates: Rapid online correspondence
NOTE: All contributors' disclosures must be entered and current in our database before comments can be posted. Enter and update disclosures at http://submit.neurology.org. Exception: replies to comments concerning an article you originally authored do not require updated disclosures.
- Stay timely. Submit only on articles published within the last 8 weeks.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- 200 words maximum.
- 5 references maximum. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- 5 authors maximum. Exception: replies can include all original authors of the article.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.