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Morphometry of corpus callosum in Williams syndrome: shape as an index of neural development

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Abstract

Brain abnormalities in Williams syndrome (WS) have been consistently reported, despite few studies have devoted attention to connectivity between different brain regions in WS. In this study, we evaluated corpus callosum (CC) morphometry: bending angle, length, thickness and curvature of CC using a new shape analysis method in a group of 17 individuals with WS matched with a typically developing group. We used this multimethod approach because we hypothesized that neurodevelopmental abnormalities might result in both volume changes and structure deformation. Overall, we found reduced absolute CC cross-sectional area and volume in WS (mean CC and subsections). In parallel, we observed group differences regarding CC shape and thickness. Specifically, CC of WS is morphologically different, characterized by a larger bending angle and being more curved in the posterior part. Moreover, although CC in WS is shorter, a larger relative thickness of CC was found in all callosal sections. Finally, groups differed regarding the association between CC measures, age, white matter volume and cognitive performance. In conclusions, abnormal patterns of CC morphology and shape may be implicated in WS cognitive and behavioural phenotype.

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Notes

  1. FSIQ was not available for two participants in TD group.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the grants PIC/IC/83290/2007 and PTDC/PSI-PCL/115316/2009 from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portugal). This study was also supported, in part, by grants from the National Institutes of Health (K05 MH070047).

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The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuropsychophysiology Laboratory, CiPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

    Adriana Sampaio & Óscar F. Gonçalves

  2. Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

    Nuno Sousa

  3. Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 1249 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Sylvain Bouix & Martha E. Shenton

  4. Department of Neuroradiology, Hospital de Santo António, Porto, Portugal

    Cristiana Vasconcelos

  5. Genetic Molecular Unit, Galician Public Foundation of Genomic Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Montse Férnandez

  6. Laboratory of Neuroscience, Clinical Neuroscience Division, Department of Psychiatry, VA Boston Healthcare System, and Harvard Medical School, Brockton, MA, USA

    Martha E. Shenton

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  1. Adriana Sampaio
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  2. Sylvain Bouix
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  3. Nuno Sousa
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  4. Cristiana Vasconcelos
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  5. Montse Férnandez
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  6. Martha E. Shenton
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  7. Óscar F. Gonçalves
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Adriana Sampaio or Sylvain Bouix.

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A. Sampaio and S. Bouix share equal first authorship.

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Sampaio, A., Bouix, S., Sousa, N. et al. Morphometry of corpus callosum in Williams syndrome: shape as an index of neural development. Brain Struct Funct 218, 711–720 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-012-0423-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-012-0423-4

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