A new study shows that the amygdala is substantially larger in babies with autism.

 

The study makes no conclusions about whether the size of the amygdala is related to genetic or environmental factors (or both).

 

The amygdala has been one of those brain structures that fascinates me. It's a very old structure which is part of our "reptilian brain" but seems to have found some novel uses inside the mammalian brain, particularly in regard to the fixation of memory.

 

I've heard this as a "suspect" brain structure involved in autism, but this is the first scientific study I've seen demonstrating it to be abnormal in children with autism.

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Given recent publications (on PubMed!) suggesting that schizophrenia and autism represent social disorders with a common origin but on "diametrical" ends of the spectrum I decided to look at studies on how schizophrenia affects the amygdala.

 

I found this rather interesting article on the size of the hippocampus and amygdala (both parts of the lymbic system) in patients with schizophrenia, and their results were:

 

Volumes of hippocampus and amygdala were measured in 56 subjects with DSM-III-R schizophrenia, 26 patients with other psychoses and 104 comparison subjects. Small hippocampal volume reductions in schizophrenia (2%) and all psychoses (3%) were not significant when adjusted for total brain volume. The shape of hippocampus in schizophrenia did not differ significantly from comparison subjects. Right hippocampus and amygdala were significantly larger than the left in all groups.

 

Could it be that autism is linked to symmetric enlargement of the amygdala, and schizophrenia is linked to asymmetrical enlargement?

Interesting question. I'll be curious to hear what the answer is. If this thread struggles to find traction, you my want to PM Glider.