Neurology 2002;58:428-432
© 2002 American Academy of Neurology
Minicolumnar pathology in autism
Manuel F. Casanova, MD,
Daniel P. Buxhoeveden, PhD,
Andrew E. Switala and
Emil Roy, PhD
From Medical College of Georgia (Dr. Casanova), Augusta; Department of Anthropology (Dr. Buxhoeveden), University of South Carolina, Columbia; and Downtown Veterans Administration Medical Center (Drs. Casanova and Roy, and A. Switala), Augusta, GA.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Manuel F. Casanova, Downtown VA Medical Center, 26 Psychiatry Service, 3B-121, Augusta, GA 30910; e-mail: casanova{at}np2.mcg.edu
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.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
A. Raznahan, R. Toro, E. Daly, D. Robertson, C. Murphy, Q. Deeley, P. F. Bolton, T. Paus, and D. G. M. Murphy
Cortical Anatomy in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An In Vivo MRI Study on the Effect of Age
Cereb Cortex,
October 9, 2009;
(2009)
bhp198v1.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. H. Mostofsky, S. K. Powell, D. J. Simmonds, M. C. Goldberg, B. Caffo, and J. J. Pekar
Decreased connectivity and cerebellar activity in autism during motor task performance
Brain,
September 1, 2009;
132(9):
2413 - 2425.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. D. Mraz, J. Dixon, T. Dumont-Mathieu, and D. Fein
Accelerated Head and Body Growth in Infants Later Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Comparative Study of Optimal Outcome Children
J Child Neurol,
July 1, 2009;
24(7):
833 - 845.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. G. Johnson, S. Buyske, A. E. Mars, M. Sreenath, E. S. Stenroos, T. A. Williams, R. Stein, and G. H. Lambert
HLA-DR4 as a Risk Allele for Autism Acting in Mothers of Probands Possibly During Pregnancy
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med,
June 1, 2009;
163(6):
542 - 546.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Casanova and J. Trippe
Radial cytoarchitecture and patterns of cortical connectivity in autism
Phil Trans R Soc B,
May 27, 2009;
364(1522):
1433 - 1436.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. K. Sundaram, A. Kumar, M. I. Makki, M. E. Behen, H. T. Chugani, and D. C. Chugani
Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Frontal Lobe in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Cereb Cortex,
November 1, 2008;
18(11):
2659 - 2665.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Rinaldi, G. Silberberg, and H. Markram
Hyperconnectivity of Local Neocortical Microcircuitry Induced by Prenatal Exposure to Valproic Acid
Cereb Cortex,
April 1, 2008;
18(4):
763 - 770.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. W. G. Vandenbroucke, H. S. Scholte, H. van Engeland, V. A. F. Lamme, and C. Kemner
A neural substrate for atypical low-level visual processing in autism spectrum disorder
Brain,
April 1, 2008;
131(4):
1013 - 1024.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Manzi, A. L. Loizzo, G. Giana, and P. Curatolo
Autism and Metabolic Diseases
J Child Neurol,
March 1, 2008;
23(3):
307 - 314.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. F. Casanova and C. R. Tillquist
Encephalization, Emergent Properties, and Psychiatry: A Minicolumnar Perspective
Neuroscientist,
February 1, 2008;
14(1):
101 - 118.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. F. Casanova, A. E. Switala, J. Trippe, and M. Fitzgerald
Comparative minicolumnar morphometry of three distinguished scientists
Autism,
November 1, 2007;
11(6):
557 - 569.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. P. Johnson, S. M. Myers, and and the Council on Children With Disabilities
Identification and Evaluation of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Pediatrics,
November 1, 2007;
120(5):
1183 - 1215.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Kenet, R. C. Froemke, C. E. Schreiner, I. N. Pessah, and M. M. Merzenich
Perinatal exposure to a noncoplanar polychlorinated biphenyl alters tonotopy, receptive fields, and plasticity in rat primary auditory cortex
PNAS,
May 1, 2007;
104(18):
7646 - 7651.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Loddo, S. R. Dager, H. Petropoulos, S. D. Friedman, and D. W.W. Shaw
Gray matter abnormalities in autism spectrum disorder revealed by T2 relaxation
Neurology,
April 10, 2007;
68(15):
1237 - 1238.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. A. Williams, A. E. Mars, S. G. Buyske, E. S. Stenroos, R. Wang, M. F. Factura-Santiago, G. H. Lambert, and W. G. Johnson
Risk of Autistic Disorder in Affected Offspring of Mothers With a Glutathione S-Transferase P1 Haplotype
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med,
April 1, 2007;
161(4):
356 - 361.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. A. Just, V. L. Cherkassky, T. A. Keller, R. K. Kana, and N. J. Minshew
Functional and Anatomical Cortical Underconnectivity in Autism: Evidence from an fMRI Study of an Executive Function Task and Corpus Callosum Morphometry
Cereb Cortex,
April 1, 2007;
17(4):
951 - 961.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. F. Casanova
Neuropathological and Genetic Findings in Autism: The Significance of a Putative Minicolumnopathy
Neuroscientist,
October 1, 2006;
12(5):
435 - 441.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Hadjikhani, R. M. Joseph, J. Snyder, and H. Tager-Flusberg
Anatomical Differences in the Mirror Neuron System and Social Cognition Network in Autism
Cereb Cortex,
September 1, 2006;
16(9):
1276 - 1282.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Petropoulos, S. D. Friedman, D.W.W. Shaw, A. A. Artru, G. Dawson, and S. R. Dager
Gray matter abnormalities in autism spectrum disorder revealed by T2 relaxation.
Neurology,
August 22, 2006;
67(4):
632 - 636.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Korkmaz, G. Benbir, and V. Demirbilek
Migration Abnormality in the Left Cingulate Gyrus Presenting With Autistic Disorder
J Child Neurol,
July 1, 2006;
21(7):
600 - 604.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. DiCicco-Bloom, C. Lord, L. Zwaigenbaum, E. Courchesne, S. R. Dager, C. Schmitz, R. T. Schultz, J. Crawley, and L. J. Young
The developmental neurobiology of autism spectrum disorder.
J. Neurosci.,
June 28, 2006;
26(26):
6897 - 6906.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. S. Chan and W. W. M. Leung
Differentiating Autistic Children with Quantitative Encephalography: A 3-Month Longitudinal Study
J Child Neurol,
May 1, 2006;
21(5):
391 - 399.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Liss, C. Saulnier, D. Fein, and M. Kinsbourne
Sensory and attention abnormalities in autistic spectrum disorders
Autism,
March 1, 2006;
10(2):
155 - 172.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Antonelli, M. C. Tomasini, M. Tattoli, T. Cassano, S. Tanganelli, S. Finetti, E. Mazzoni, L. Trabace, L. Steardo, V. Cuomo, et al.
Prenatal Exposure to the CB1 Receptor Agonist WIN 55,212-2 Causes Learning Disruption Associated with Impaired Cortical NMDA Receptor Function and Emotional Reactivity Changes in Rat Offspring
Cereb Cortex,
December 1, 2005;
15(12):
2013 - 2020.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. L. Connors, D. E. Crowell, C. G. Eberhart, J. Copeland, C. J. Newschaffer, S. J. Spence, and A. W. Zimmerman
{beta} 2-Adrenergic Receptor Activation and Genetic Polymorphisms in Autism: Data from Dizygotic Twins
J Child Neurol,
November 1, 2005;
20(11):
876 - 884.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. R. Herbert
Large Brains in Autism: The Challenge of Pervasive Abnormality
Neuroscientist,
October 1, 2005;
11(5):
417 - 440.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Bertone, L. Mottron, P. Jelenic, and J. Faubert
Enhanced and diminished visuo-spatial information processing in autism depends on stimulus complexity
Brain,
October 1, 2005;
128(10):
2430 - 2441.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Limoges, L. Mottron, C. Bolduc, C. Berthiaume, and R. Godbout
Atypical sleep architecture and the autism phenotype
Brain,
May 1, 2005;
128(5):
1049 - 1061.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. J. M. C. Palmen, H. van Engeland, P. R. Hof, and C. Schmitz
Neuropathological findings in autism
Brain,
December 1, 2004;
127(12):
2572 - 2583.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y. Takarae, N. J. Minshew, B. Luna, C. M. Krisky, and J. A. Sweeney
Pursuit eye movement deficits in autism
Brain,
December 1, 2004;
127(12):
2584 - 2594.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Cruz, D. L. Roe, B. Urbanc, H. Cabral, H. E. Stanley, and D. L. Rosene
Age-related reduction in microcolumnar structure in area 46 of the rhesus monkey correlates with behavioral decline
PNAS,
November 9, 2004;
101(45):
15846 - 15851.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. K. Belmonte, G. Allen, A. Beckel-Mitchener, L. M. Boulanger, R. A. Carper, and S. J. Webb
Autism and Abnormal Development of Brain Connectivity
J. Neurosci.,
October 20, 2004;
24(42):
9228 - 9231.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. R. Herbert
Neuroimaging in Disorders of Social and Emotional Functioning: What Is the Question?
J Child Neurol,
October 1, 2004;
19(10):
772 - 784.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. M. Mooney, J. A. Siegenthaler, and M. W. Miller
Ethanol Induces Heterotopias in Organotypic Cultures of Rat Cerebral Cortex
Cereb Cortex,
October 1, 2004;
14(10):
1071 - 1080.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. A. Just, V. L. Cherkassky, T. A. Keller, and N. J. Minshew
Cortical activation and synchronization during sentence comprehension in high-functioning autism: evidence of underconnectivity
Brain,
August 1, 2004;
127(8):
1811 - 1821.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S Baron-Cohen
The cognitive neuroscience of autism
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry,
July 1, 2004;
75(7):
945 - 948.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Gustafsson
Comment on "Disruption in the Inhibitory Architecture of the Cell Minicolumn: Implications for Autism"
Neuroscientist,
June 1, 2004;
10(3):
189 - 191.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. J. Lotspeich, H. Kwon, C. M. Schumann, S. L. Fryer, B. L. Goodlin-Jones, M. H. Buonocore, C. R. Lammers, D. G. Amaral, and A. L. Reiss
Investigation of Neuroanatomical Differences Between Autism and Asperger Syndrome
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
March 1, 2004;
61(3):
291 - 298.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Janusonis, V. Gluncic, and P. Rakic
Early Serotonergic Projections to Cajal-Retzius Cells: Relevance for Cortical Development
J. Neurosci.,
February 18, 2004;
24(7):
1652 - 1659.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. F. Casanova, D. Buxhoeveden, and J. Gomez
Disruption in the Inhibitory Architecture of the Cell Minicolumn: Implications for Autisim
Neuroscientist,
December 1, 2003;
9(6):
496 - 507.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. M. Foxton, M. E. Stewart, L. Barnard, J. Rodgers, A. H. Young, G. O'Brien, and T. D. Griffiths
Absence of auditory 'global interference' in autism
Brain,
December 1, 2003;
126(12):
2703 - 2709.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. D. Bigler, D. F. Tate, E. S. Neeley, L. J. Wolfson, M. J. Miller, S. A. Rice, H. Cleavinger, C. Anderson, H. Coon, S. Ozonoff, et al.
Temporal Lobe, Autism, and Macrocephaly
AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol.,
November 1, 2003;
24(10):
2066 - 2076.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R.-A. Muller, N. Kleinhans, N. Kemmotsu, K. Pierce, and E. Courchesne
Abnormal Variability and Distribution of Functional Maps in Autism: An fMRI Study of Visuomotor Learning
Am J Psychiatry,
October 1, 2003;
160(10):
1847 - 1862.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Courchesne, R. Carper, and N. Akshoomoff
Evidence of Brain Overgrowth in the First Year of Life in Autism
JAMA,
July 16, 2003;
290(3):
337 - 344.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. E. Lainhart
Increased Rate of Head Growth During Infancy in Autism
JAMA,
July 16, 2003;
290(3):
393 - 394.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. S. B. C. Ang Jr, T. F. Haydar, V. Gluncic, and P. Rakic
Four-Dimensional Migratory Coordinates of GABAergic Interneurons in the Developing Mouse Cortex
J. Neurosci.,
July 2, 2003;
23(13):
5805 - 5815.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. R. Herbert, D. A. Ziegler, C. K. Deutsch, L. M. O'Brien, N. Lange, A. Bakardjiev, J. Hodgson, K. T. Adrien, S. Steele, N. Makris, et al.
Dissociations of cerebral cortex, subcortical and cerebral white matter volumes in autistic boys
Brain,
May 1, 2003;
126(5):
1182 - 1192.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Szatmari
The causes of autism spectrum disorders
BMJ,
January 25, 2003;
326(7382):
173 - 174.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S.D. Friedman, D.W. Shaw, A.A. Artru, T.L. Richards, J. Gardner, G. Dawson, S. Posse, and S.R. Dager
Regional brain chemical alterations in young children with autism spectrum disorder
Neurology,
January 14, 2003;
60(1):
100 - 107.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. F. Casanova, D. P. Buxhoeveden, and C. Brown
Clinical and Macroscopic Correlates of Minicolumnar Pathology in Autism
J Child Neurol,
September 1, 2002;
17(9):
692 - 695.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disease Mechanisms in Neuroscience
Neuroscientist,
June 1, 2002;
8(3):
191 - 191.
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. P. Buxhoeveden and M. F. Casanova
The minicolumn hypothesis in neuroscience
Brain,
May 1, 2002;
125(5):
935 - 951.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
