Cerebral white matter and cognition in hydrocephalic children

J. M. Fletcher, T. P. Bohan, M. E. Brandt, B. L. Brookshire, S. R. Beaver, D. J. Francis, K. C. Davidson, N. M. Thompson and M. E. Miner
Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical School, Houston 77030.

Although children with hydrocephalus frequently show poor development of nonverbal cognitive skills relative to verbal skills, little is known about the neuropathologic correlates of these discrepancies. In this study, cerebral white-matter structures and lateral ventricles were measured from the magnetic resonance images of age-matched children with meningomyelocele, meningocele, and aqueductal stenosis and normal subjects. The volume of each lateral ventricle and the cross-sectional area of the corpus callosum and internal capsules were correlated with concurrent measures of verbal and nonverbal cognitive skills. The corpus callosum in the meningomyelocele and aqueductal stenosis groups was smaller. The lateral ventricles were larger, and the internal capsules were smaller, in all patient groups than in normal subjects. There were no differences in the size of the centra semiovale. Although verbal and nonverbal measures correlated positively with the size of the corpus callosum, the correlation was higher for nonverbal measures. Nonverbal measures correlated with the right, but not the left, lateral ventricle and with the area of the right and left internal capsules. Verbal measures correlated with the left, but not right, lateral ventricle and with the left, but not right, internal capsule. These results show a relationship between the corpus callosum and cognitive skills that is also influenced by hydrocephalus-related changes in the lateral ventricles and other cerebral white-matter tracts.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Functional and magnetic resonance imaging correlates of corpus callosum in normal pressure hydrocephalus before and after shunting
Mataro et al.
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 2007;78:395-398.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Diffusion tensor imaging in hydrocephalus: initial experience.
Assaf et al.
Am. J. Neuroradiol. 2006;27:1717-1724.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Arnold-Chiari-II malformation and cognitive functioning in spina bifida
Vinck et al.
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 2006;77:1083-1086.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Cognitive changes after cerebrospinal fluid shunting in young adults with spina bifida and assumed arrested hydrocephalus
Mataró et al.
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 2000;68:615-621.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Quantitative Morphology of the Corpus Callosum in Children With Neurofibromatosis and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Kayl et al.
J Child Neurol 2000;15:90-96.
ABSTRACT  

Neuropsychologic and Adaptive Functioning in Adolescents and Young Adults Shunted for Congenital Hydrocephalus
Hommet et al.
J Child Neurol 1999;14:144-150.
ABSTRACT  

Principal Identifying Features of the Syndrome of Nonverbal Learning Disabilities in Children
Harnadek and Rourke
J Learn Disabil 1994;27:144-154.
ABSTRACT  

Arithmetic Disabilities, Specific and Otherwise: A Neuropsychological Perspective
Rourke
J Learn Disabil 1993;26:214-226.
ABSTRACT