Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T16:30:20.428Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Structural neuroimaging in learning disability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Shoumitro Deb*
Affiliation:
Division of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN

Abstract

Background

Neuroimaging has proven useful in confirming diagnoses of certain neuropsychiatric conditions, but neuroimaging studies in learning disability are at an early stage.

Method

A review of recent structural neuroimaging research in relation to learning disability was carried out.

Results

Brain abnormalities can be detected in cases of idiopathic and non-idiopathic learning disability, but their significance is not clear due to discrepancies in study findings and the small cohorts involved.

Conclusion

Although the role of structural neuroimaging in the assessment of people with learning disability is not clear, new magnetic resonance imaging technology holds great promise for future research.

Type
Review Articles
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Courchesne, E., Yeung-Courchesne, R., Press, G. A., et al (1988) Hypoplasia of cerebellar vermal lobules VI and VII in autism. New England Journal of Medicine, 318, 13491354.Google Scholar
Creasey, H., Rumsey, J. M., Schwartz, M., et al (1986) Brain morphometry in autistic men as measured by volumetric computed tomography. Archives of Neurology, 43, 669672.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
David, A. S., Wacharasindhu, A. & Lishman, W. A. (1993) Severe psychiatric disturbance and abnormalities of the corpus callosum: review and case series. Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 56, 8593.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Deb, S. (1995) Brain imaging in mental retardation. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 8, 280285.Google Scholar
Deb, S. (1997) Behavioural phenotypes. In Psychiatry in Learning Disability (ed. Read, S.), pp. 93116. London: W. B. Saunders.Google Scholar
Deb, S. & Prasad, K. B. G. (1994) The prevalence of autistic disorder among children with a learning disability. British Journal of Psychiatry, 165, 395399.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dörries, A., Spohr, H. L. & Kunze, J. (1988) Angelman (‘happy puppet’) syndrome: seven new cases documented by cerebral computed tomography: review of the literature. European Journal of Pediatrics, 148, 270273.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Filipek, P. A. (1996) Brief report: Neuroimaging in autism: The state of the science 1995. Journal of Autism Developmental Disorder, 26, 211215.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Homano, K., Iwasaki, N., Kawashima, K., et al (1990) Volumetric quantification of brain volume in children using sequential computed tomography scans. Neuroradiology, 32, 300303.Google Scholar
Jernigan, T. L., Bellugi, U., Sowell, E., et al (1993) Cerebral morphologic distinctions between Williams and Down syndromes. Archives of Neurology, 50, 186191.Google Scholar
Koo, B. K. K., Blaser, S., Harwood-Nash, D., et al (1992) Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of delayed myelination in Down syndrome: a case report and review of the literature. Journal of Child Neurology, 7, 44174421.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mimaki, T., Tagawa, T., Tanaka, J., et al (1989) EEG and computed tomography abnormalities in xeroderma pigmentosum. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, 80, 136141.Google Scholar
Palmini, A., Andermann, F., Olivier, A., et al (1991) Focal neuronal migration disorders and intractable partial epilepsy: a study of 30 patients. Annals of Neurology, 30, 741749.Google Scholar
Pearlson, G. D., Warren, A. C., Starkstein, S. E., et al (1990) Brain atrophy in 18 patients with Down syndrome: a CTstudy. American Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 11, 811816.Google Scholar
Piven, J., Arndt, S., Balley, J., et al (1995) An MRI study of brain size in autism. American Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 11451149.Google ScholarPubMed
Reiss, A. L., Aylward, E., Freund, L. S., et al (1991a) Neuroanatomy of fragile X syndrome: the posterior fossa. Annals of Neurology, 29, 2632.Google Scholar
Reiss, A. L., Freund, L., Tseng, J. E., et al (1991b) Neuroanatomy in fragile X females: the posterior fossa. American Journal of Human Genetics, 49, 279288.Google ScholarPubMed
Reiss, A. L., Lee, J. & Freund, L. (1994) Neuroanatomy of fragile X syndrome. Neurology, 44, 13171324.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ritvo, E. R., Freeman, B. J., Scheibel, A. B., et al (1986) Lower Purkinje cell counts in the cerebella of four autistic subjects: initial findings of the UCLA-NSAC autopsy research report. American Journal of Psychiatry, 143, 862866.Google ScholarPubMed
Schaefer, G. B., Bodensteiner, J. B., Thompson, J. N., et al (1991) Clinical and morphometric analysis of the hypoplastic corpus callosum. Archives of Neurology, 48, 933936.Google Scholar
Schaefer, G. B. & Bodensteiner, J. B. (1992) Evaluation of the child with idiopathic mental retardation. Pediatric Neurology, 39, 929943.Google Scholar
Schaefer, G. B., Thompson, J. N. Jr. Bodensteiner, J. B., et al (1996) Hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis in neurogenetic syndromes. Annals of Neurology, 39, 382385.Google Scholar
Schapiro, M. B., Luxenberg, J. S., Kaye, J. A., et al (1989) Serial quantitative CT analysis of brain morphometries in adult Down's syndrome at different ages. Neurology, 39, 13491353.Google Scholar
Süssová, J., Seidl, Z. & Faber, J. (1990) Hemiparetic forms of cerebral palsy in relation to epilepsy and mental retardation. Developmental and Child Neurology, 32, 792795.Google Scholar
Wisniewski, K. E., Segan, S. M., Miezejeski, C. M., et al (1991) The Fra(x) syndrome: neurological, electrophysiological, and neuropathological abnormalities. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 38, 476480.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.