Statistical Shape Analysis of Differences in the Shape of the Corpus Callosum Between Genders

Abstract

Sexual dimorphic characteristics, which play an important role in human evolution studies and biological research, can be studied morphologically and metrically. Geometric morphometrics allows a better assessment of morphological characteristics. Statistical shape analysis has a long history in neuroanatomical and other research. The aim of this study was to identify shape differences of the corpus callosum between genders. Landmark coordinate data were collected from two-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging scans of 93 homogeneously aged patients, 45 men and 48 women. These data were analyzed using Euclidean distance matrix analysis and thin plate spline analysis. The general shape variability of the corpus callosum of men was greater than that of women (men, 0.134; women, 0.097). We found no significant difference between sexes in the general shape of the corpus callosum, but we did find significant differences in the distances between some landmarks. Deformation of the corpus callosum between men to women was mainly detected in the posterior of the corpus callosum. These results serve as a reference for future studies on shape alterations of the corpus callosum associated with certain conditions. Anat Rec, 290:825-830, 2007. 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Key words: corpus callosum; sexual dimorphism; statistical shape analysis; geometric morphometrics; EDMAThe corpus callosum (CC) is the major commissural pathway between the brain hemispheres and plays an integral role in relaying sensory, motor, and cognitive information from homologous regions in the two hemispheres. Many neurological studies indicate that the size and shape of the CC are related to gender, age, and neurodegenerative diseases, among other factors. The sexual dimorphism of the CC has been reported from postmortem and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, but this conclusion has remained controversial since the original report by DeLacoste-Utamsing and Holloway (1982), who found that adult human women had a larger splenium.Statistical shape analysis, a relatively new method in biological research, compares body forms by using specific landmarks determined by anatomical prominences.

Biometry of the Corpus Callosum in Children: MR Imaging Reference Data

“…The first report suggesting a possible sex effect on CC morphology was published in 1982 18 and described the splenium as being more prominent in female adults. Since that report, many studies have focused on that particular point and could not find any sex differences in the splenium size in adults 19,20 or children. 10,21 Our results are in keeping with these findings.…”

“…10,15 Distances measured between different landmarks identified on the CC have also been evaluated. 19 These techniques are useful for a better understanding of CC growth and variations, but their main drawback is that they are not at all easy to use in daily practice. Therefore, we favored linear easily reproducible measurements.…”

Gender Differences in Elements of Human Anterior Commissure and Olfactory Bulb and Tract

“…There are many reports [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] on the morphological gender difference of the corpus callosum. The gender difference of the corpus callosum was first suggested by DeLacosteUtamsing and Holloway [11], who found that adult human women had a larger splenium.…”

Statistical Shape Analysis of Handwriting of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

“…However, there are very few studies about analysis of hand- writing by statistical shape analysis. [15][16][17][18][19] Only Arslan and Guney examined shape changes between characters written by left-handed and righthanded persons and females and males. 20 The novelty of this study is due to rarity of handwriting analysis in patients with MS, followup of MS patients for one year, and use of statistical shape analysis for handwriting analysis.…”