Corpus callosum shape analysis with application to dyslexia

• Published in: Translational neuroscience Vol. 1; no. 2; pp. 124 - 130
• Main Authors: Casanova, Manuel F., El-Baz, Ayman, Elnakib, Ahmed, Giedd, Jay, Rumsey, Judith M., Williams, Emily L., Switala, Andrew E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg SP Versita 01.06.2010; Versita
• Subjects: Brain mapping; Communication; Corpus callosum; Dyslexia; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurobiology; Neurology; Neurosciences; Neurosurgery; Dyslexia; Magnetic resonance imaging; Corpus callosum; Brain mapping
• ISSN: 2081-3856; 2081-6936
• DOI: 10.2478/v10134-010-0017-8

Morphometric studies of the corpus callosum suggest its involvement in a number of psychiatric conditions. In the present study we introduce a novel pattern recognition technique that offers a point-bypoint shape descriptor of the corpus callosum. The method uses arc lengths of electric field lines in order to avoid discontinuities caused by folding anatomical contours. We tested this technique by comparing the shape of the corpus callosum in a series of dyslexic men ( n = 16) and age-matched controls ( n = 14). The results indicate a generalized increase in size of the corpus callosum in dyslexia with a concomitant diminution at its rostral and caudal poles. The reported shape analysis and 2D-reconstruction provide information of anatomical importance that would otherwise passed unnoticed when analyzing size information alone.