Mm. Haznedar et al., ANTERIOR CINGULATE GYRUS VOLUME AND GLUCOSE-METABOLISM IN AUTISTIC DISORDER, The American journal of psychiatry, 154(8), 1997, pp. 1047-1050
Objective: This study reports the first paired measurements of glucose
metabolism and volume of the anterior cingulate gyrus in autism. Meth
od: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography
(PET) scans of seven high-functioning autistic patients and seven sex-
and age-matched normal volunteers were coregistered. After the anteri
or cingulate gyri were outlined on the MRI images, the volumes of the
structures were measured and corrected for brain volume. The volumes w
ere then applied to the PET images and metabolic maps were obtained. R
esults: Right anterior cingulate area 24' was significantly smaller in
relative volume, and both area 24 and area 24' were metabolically les
s active, in the autistic patients than in the normal subjects. Conclu
sions: Autism may be characterized by structural and functional altera
tions in the anterior cingulate gyrus.