Corpus callosum

What is the corpus callosum? 

The corpus callosum is the bundle of inter-hemispheric white matter tracts that plays an essential role in the transfer and integration of sensory, motor and cognitive information between homologous regions in opposite hemispheres. It is the primary source of contralateral connections between the hemispheres and contains as many as 250 million axons.

What is the evidence for corpus callosum alterations?

Moderate to high quality evidence found volume and white matter reductions in the corpus callosum of people with schizophrenia compared to controls. There were reductions in frontal white matter via genu of the corpus callosum extending to the body of the corpus callosum, incorporating fibers joining the left anterior thalamic radiation, cingulum fibers, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and uncinate fasciculus.

High quality evidence found both male and female patients showed decreases of white matter in the genu, but not in the splenium, of the corpus callosum when compared to controls. The effect was non-significantly higher in females than in males.

There were similar decreases in white matter integrity in people with schizophrenia and people with bipolar disorder in the genu of the corpus callosum extending to the anterior thalamic radiation/cingulum, and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus.

October 2020

Last updated at: 3:25 am, 31st October 2020
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