The Intriguing Connection: Autism and the Amygdala

The brain is amazing! Researchers and scientists continue to investigate intricate parts of the brain. One particularly interesting area of the brain is the amygdala! The amygdala plays a vital role in handling sensory information, identifying potential threats in our surroundings, and processing the emotional state of others.

The amygdala has been under the microscope of autism research for quite some time. It turns out that researchers have discovered some pretty remarkable differences in the amygdala of autistic individuals. Some research suggests that autistic children may have a larger amygdala compared to their neurotypical peers, while other research shows that it's not quite that simple. Current research is now showing that the growth of the amygdala in autistic individuals follows a unique path. Unlike the typical trajectory of amygdala growth, the size of the amygdala can vary, sometimes being the same as that of a neurotypical individual and other times being either larger or smaller. It's the pattern of growth that is altered.

Dr. Joshua Corbin, PhD, is a Principal Investigator and Professor of Pediatrics in the Center for Neuroscience Research at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, USA. He suggests that when the amygdala is altered, behavior can be affected. It can cause aggression, emotional dysregulation, and difficulties processing social cues, among other things.

The relationship between the amygdala and autism is truly fascinating! Autism Advocate Parenting Magazine was honored to have Dr. Corbin write an article for the magazine. You can access this article and more information on autism and the amygdala in our Article Directory.

Access the article in our article directory by clicking here.