This report addresses behavioral abnormalities in children with cerebellar anomalies demonstrated on MRI scans. Published data are presented showing an interaction between cerebellar pathology and early childhood autism. The cerebellum is involved not only in movement coordination, but also in social adaptation and verbal communication. The genes expressed in the cerebellum during childhood are identical to those expressed in the hippocampus. We have observed 20 children with MRI-identified agenesis of the cerebellar vermis and behavioral abnormalities; children were aged 3-15 (mean 7.05) years and there were 12 males and eight females. A variety of autistic characteristics were identified in these children.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.