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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
An MRI study of minor physical anomalies in autism
Antonio Y Hardan1, Matcheri S Keshavan, Sucheta Sreedhar
1Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. hardanay@stanford.edu
Abstract:
The objective of this investigation was to examine the existence of minor physical anomalies (MPA) in autism. The interorbital and interlens distances were measured on MRI scans obtained from a sample of 40 non-mentally retarded individuals with autism and 41 healthy controls. No differences were observed between the two groups on any measurements. However, when the analysis was conducted using a split median procedure, individuals with autism and either low FSIQ, PIQ, or VIQ had shorter interorbital distances when compared to controls. Hypotelorism is a MPA that may be present in a subgroup of individuals with autism. Additional research is warranted using large sample sizes with a wide range of intellectual functioning.
