No evidence for preferential involvement of medial temporal lobe structures in high-functioning autism.
BACKGROUND
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with slight increases in brain volume. There has been some suggestion that medial temporal lobe structures may be preferentially involved in this disorder, although results have not always been consistent. Here, we investigate amygdala and hippocampus volumes in medication-naive subjects with high-functioning autism.


METHODS
Whole-brain magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired from 42 patients and 42 closely matched, healthy control subjects.


RESULTS
Amygdala volume did not differ significantly between patients and controls. A significant increase in hippocampal volume was proportional to an increase in overall brain volume.


CONCLUSIONS
These results argue against preferential involvement of medial temporal lobe structures in autism, at least in high-functioning medication-naive individuals.
Palmen
Saskia J M C
SJ
Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Child, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. spalmen@gmail.com
Durston
Sarah
S
Nederveen
Hilde
H
Van Engeland
Herman
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000295:instrumentation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology*