An MRI study of brain size in autism

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Abstract
This study was undertaken to obtain detailed measurements of the volume of the brain, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in a carefully selected group of autistic subjects and comparison subjects. Twenty-two male autistic subjects and 20 male volunteer comparison subjects were examined with detailed (1.5-mm slices) MRI throughout the entire brain. Total brain, total brain tissue, and total lateral ventricle volumes were measured by using manual tracing and automated techniques. After height and performance IQ were controlled, autistic subjects had significantly greater total brain, total tissue, and total lateral ventricle volumes than comparison subjects. These findings suggest that male autistic subjects have enlarged brains and that enlargement is a result of both greater brain tissue volume and greater lateral ventricle volume.