Previous studies indicate rightward asymmetry of the caudate nucleus (CN) volume and leftward asymmetry of the putamen (PN) and globus pallidus (GP). This study aimed to estimate reference ranges for basal ganglia asymmetry in a large cohort of healthy individuals (n= 949), aged seven to 21 years. MRI images of 949 (320 female, mean age 12.6 +/− 3.3, range 7–21) healthy individuals were reviewed. Volumetric measurements of the basal ganglia were obtained using automated segmentation (FreeSurfer). We computed two lateralization indices: (L-R)/(L+R) (LI) and right/left ratio (RLR). Tolerance interval estimates were used to calculate reference ranges. Rightward asymmetry of the CN and leftward asymmetry of the PN and GP were confirmed. PN and GP volume decreased with age, but CN volume did not. The lateralization index decreased with age for PN, but not for CN and GP. RLR increased with age for PN and not for CN or GP. Females were associated with smaller volume, but not with either LI or RLR difference. Reference ranges obtained in this study provide useful resources for power analysis and a reference group for future studies using basal ganglia asymmetry indices.
KerteszAPolkMBlackSE. Sex, handedness, and the morphometry of cerebral asymmetries on magnetic resonance imaging. Brain Res.1990; 530 (1): 40–48. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(90)90655-11.
2.
GieddJNSnellJWLangeN. Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging of human brain development: ages 4–18. Cereb Cortex. 1996; 6 (4): 551–560. doi: 10.1093/cercor/6.4.551.
3.
WatkinsKEPausTLerchJP. Structural asymmetries in the human brain: a voxel-based statistical analysis of 142 MRI scans. Cereb Cortex. 2001; 11 (9): 868–877. doi: 10.1093/cercor/11.9.868.
4.
PujolJLópez-SalaADeusJ. The lateral asymmetry of the human brain studied by volumetric magnetic resonance imaging. Neuroimage. 2002; 17 (2): 670–679. doi: 10.1006/nimg.2002.1203.
5.
GuadalupeTZwiersMPTeumerA.. Measurement and genetics of human subcortical and hippocampal asymmetries in large datasets. Hum Brain Mapp. 2014; 35 (7): 3277–3289. doi: 10.1002/hbm.22401.
6.
UhlíkovaPPacltIVaneckovaM. Asymmetry of basal ganglia in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2007; 28 (5): 604–609.
7.
AylwardEHReissALReaderMJ. Basal ganglia volumes in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. J Child Neurol. 1996; 11 (2): 112–115. doi: 10.1177/088307389601100210.
8.
SearsLLVestCMohamedS. An MRI study of the basal ganglia in autism. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1999; 23 (4): 613–624. doi: 10.1016/S0278-5846(99)00020-2.
9.
HusainMMMcDonaldWMDoraiswamyPM. A magnetic resonance imaging study of putamen nuclei in major depression. Psychiatry Res.1991; 40 (2): 95–99. doi: 10.1016/0925-4927(91)90001-7.
10.
Crespo-FacorroBRoiz-Santiá-EzRPelayo-TeránJM. Caudate nucleus volume and its clinical and cognitive correlations in first episode schizophrenia. Schizophr Res.2007; 91 (1–3): 87–96. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2006.12.015.
11.
DaleAMFischlBSerenoMI. Cortical surface-based analysis. I. Segmentation and surface reconstruction. Neuroimage. 1999; 9: 179–194. doi: 10.1006/nimg.1998.0395.
12.
FischlBSerenoMIDaleAM. Cortical surface-based analysis. II: inflation, flattening, and a surface-based coordinate system. Neuroimage. 1999; 9: 195–207. doi: 10.1006/nimg.1998.0396.
13.
SzabóCALancasterJLXiongJ. MR imaging volumetry of subcortical structures and cerebellar hemispheres in normal persons. Am J Neuroradiol. 2003; 24 (4): 644–647.
14.
YamashitaKYoshiuraTHiwatashiA. Volumetric asymmetry and differential aging effect of the human caudate nucleus in normal individuals: a prospective MR imaging study. J Neuroimaging. 2001; 21 (1): 34–37. doi: 10.1111/j.1552-6569.2009.00403.x.
15.
SeghierML. Laterality index in functional MRI: methodological issues. Magn Reson Imaging. 2008; 26 (5): 594–601. doi: 10.1016/j.mri.2007.10.010.
16.
GrubbsFE. Procedures for detecting outlying observations in samples. Technometries. 1969; 11: 1–21. doi: 10.1080/00401706.1969.10490657.
17.
LumsdenJHMullenK. On establishing reference values. Can J Comp Med.1978; 42 (3): 293–301.
18.
WeissbergABeatyGH. Tables of tolerance limit factors for the normal distribution. Technometries. 1960: 2: 483–500. doi: 10.1080/00401706.1960.10489914.
19.
PetersonBSRiddleMACohenDJ. Human basal ganglia volume asymmetries on magnetic resonance images. Magn Reson Imaging. 1993; 11 (4): 493–498. doi: 10.1016/0730-725X(93)90468-S.
20.
IfthikharuddinSFShrierDANumaguchiY. MR volumetric analysis of the human basal ganglia: Normative data. Academic Radiology. 2000; 7 (8): 627–634. doi: 10.1016/S1076-6332(00)80579-6.
21.
AbedelahiAHasanzadehHHadizadehH. Morphometric and volumetric study of caudate and putamen nuclei in normal individuals by MRI: Effect of normal aging, gender and hemispheric differences. Pol J Radiol. 2013; 78 (3): 7–14. doi: 10.12659/PJR.889364.
22.
VernalekenIWeibrichCSiessmeierT. Asymmetry in dopamine D(2/3) receptors of caudate nucleus is lost with age. Neuroimage. 2007; 34 (3): 870–878. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.10.013.
23.
KooistraCAHeilmanKM. Motor dominance and lateral asymmetry of the globus pallidus. Neurology. 1988; 38 (3): 388–390. doi:10.1212/WNL.38.3.388.
24.
Gunning-DixonFMHeadDMcQuainJ. Differential aging of the human striatum: a prospective MR imaging study. Am J Neuroradiol. 1998; 19 (8): 1501–1507.
25.
RazNRodrigueKMKennedyKM. Differential aging of the human striatum: longitudinal evidence. Am J Neuroradiol. 2003; 24 (9): 1849–1856.
SunamiYKoideRAraiN. Radiologic and neuropathologic findings in patients in a family with dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy. Am J Neuroradiol. 2011; 32 (1): 109–114.
28.
RijpkemaMEveraerdDvan der PolC. Normal sexual dimorphism in the human basal ganglia. Hum Brain Mapp. 2012; 33 (5): 1246–1252. doi: 10.1002/hbm.21283.
29.
ReissALAbramsMTSingerHS. Brain development, gender and IQ in children. A volumetric imaging study. Brain. 1996; 119: 1763–1774. doi: 10.1093/brain/119.5.1763.
30.
GoldsteinJMSeidmanLJHortonNJ. Normal sexual dimorphism of the adult human brain assessed by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging. Cereb Cortex. 2001; 11 (6): 490–497. doi: 10.1093/cercor/11.6.490.
31.
MunroCAMcCaulMEWongDF. Sex differences in striatal dopamine release in healthy adults. Biol Psychiatry. 2006; 59 (10): 966–974. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.01.008.
32.
PfaffDKeinerM. Atlas of estradiol-concentrating cells in the central nervous system of the female rat. J Comp Neurol. 1973; 151 (2): 121–158. doi: 10.1002/cne.901510204.
33.
Van HartesveldtCJoyceJN. Effects of estrogen on the basal ganglia. Neurosci Biobehav Rev.1986; 10 (1): 1–14. doi: 10.1016/0149-7634(86)90029-1.
34.
QiuACrocettiDAdlerM. Basal ganglia volume and shape in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 2009; 166 (1): 74–82. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2008.08030426.
35.
NavaraKJ. Humans at tropical latitudes produce more females. Biol Lett. 2009; 23; 5 (4): 524–527.
