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Imaging and the Corpus Callosum in Patients with Autism

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Comprehensive Guide to Autism

Abstract

The human brain contains an architectural network of white and gray matter structures, fiber connections, and arteries that have been engineered to work synchronously to execute a variety of functions such as walking, talking, thinking, feeling, and perceiving. The structure responsible for the rapid exchange of information necessary for these functions to occur is called the corpus callosum. Researchers have learned a great deal about the structure and function of the corpus callosum through early split-brain investigations in which the corpus callosum was partially or fully ablated from the patient. In recognizing how vital this structure is in performing daily functions, it became apparent that the corpus callosum may be implicated in several neurodevelopmental disorders. This chapter provides an overview of the structure and function of the corpus callosum, common methods of measuring this structure, along with reports of gender dimorphism and atypical findings in autism.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Louisville, Bldg 55A, 500 S Preston St, 40202, Louisville, KY, USA

    Manuel F. Casanova

  2. University of Louisville, Bldg 55A, 500 S Preston St, 40202, Louisville, KY, USA

    Brynn Dombroski & Andrew E. Switala

Authors
  1. Manuel F. Casanova
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  2. Brynn Dombroski
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  3. Andrew E. Switala
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Manuel F. Casanova .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, Faculty of Science & Technology, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

  2. Nutritional Sciences Division and Genomics Centre, King's College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. Faculty of Society and Health, Buckinghamshire New University, Middlesex, United Kingdom

    Colin R. Martin

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Casanova, M.F., Dombroski, B., Switala, A.E. (2014). Imaging and the Corpus Callosum in Patients with Autism. In: Patel, V., Preedy, V., Martin, C. (eds) Comprehensive Guide to Autism. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4788-7_50

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4788-7_50

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-4787-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-4788-7

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

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