Relationship between intelligence and the size and composition of the corpus callosum

Exp Brain Res. 2009 Jan;192(3):455-64. doi: 10.1007/s00221-008-1604-5. Epub 2008 Oct 24.

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between the morphology of the corpus callosum (CC) and IQ in a healthy sample of individuals in their late teens and early twenties. The relationship between the area of the CC, measured at the midline, and IQ showed regional differences. We observed that a higher estimated performance IQ was associated with smaller area in the posterior regions of the CC, a finding that differs from a positive association previously observed in a somewhat older adult sample. In contrast, higher estimated verbal IQ was associated with decreased fractional anisotropy of the genu, an anterior portion of the CC. Age effects were also observed such that older age was associated with larger CC area. Our results suggest that CC morphology is related to cognitive performance, which may have implications for clinical populations in whom CC morphology is atypical.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anisotropy
  • Anthropometry
  • Cerebral Cortex / anatomy & histology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / growth & development
  • Corpus Callosum / anatomy & histology*
  • Corpus Callosum / growth & development
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Dominance, Cerebral / physiology
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Intelligence / physiology*
  • Intelligence Tests
  • Male
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / physiology
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / ultrastructure*
  • Neural Pathways / anatomy & histology
  • Neural Pathways / growth & development
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Verbal Behavior / physiology
  • Young Adult