title: No evidence for preferential involvement of medial temporal lobe structures in high-functioning autism.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Child, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. spalmen@gmail.com
authors.forename: Saskia J M C
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Palmen
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Durston
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nederveen
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Engeland
mesh_terms: 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*