Increased hippocampal volumes in adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorder and an IQ>100: A manual morphometric study.
Previous studies concerning the volumes of the amygdala and the hippocampus in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) show inconsistent results. We acquired magnetic resonance images of 30 individuals with ASD and individually matched controls. All participants had an IQ>100 to increase the likelihood of including non-syndromal forms of ASD. Manually defined amygdala volumes showed no significant group difference, while hippocampi were significantly enlarged in ASD. This finding is discussed with regard to the 'intense world hypothesis'.
Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Freiburg Brain Imaging, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Simon
S
Maier
Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Freiburg Brain Imaging, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Universitäres Zentrum Autismus Spektrum, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address: tebartzvanelst@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
Ludger
L
Tebartz van Elst
Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Daniel
D
Beier
Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Universitäres Zentrum Autismus Spektrum, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Dieter
D
Ebert
Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Universitäres Zentrum Autismus Spektrum, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Thomas
T
Fangmeier
Universitäres Zentrum Autismus Spektrum, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Martina
M
Radtke
Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Freiburg Brain Imaging, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Evgeniy
E
Perlov
Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Universitäres Zentrum Autismus Spektrum, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Andreas
A
Riedel
D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D055815:Young Adult
Amygdala; Autism spectrum disorder; Hippocampus