Evidence of brain enlargement has been discovered by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in several samples of children who suffer from autism, when in comparison to other normal children, according to the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Abnormalities in communication, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors, and social deficits are some of the deficits of autism. The neuroanatomical basis for this condition is yet to discovered. The study was conducted upon 51 children who suffer from autism belonging to the age group of 18 months and 35 months, in addition to 25 children without autism.The enlargements were found in the cerebral cortical volumes of people with autism, but not where cerebellar volumes are concerned. The enlargement may commence towards the end of the first year after birth.
The enlargements were across the cerebral cortex in the both gray and white matter. The cerebral cortex is responsible for functions like memory, thought, and perception, among other functions. The genaralised enlargement of the cerebral cortical GM and WM brain volume in cases of autism has been confirmed by this study, when the autistic patients are two years old.
