Increased hippocampal volumes in adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorder and an IQ>100: A manual morphometric study

Simon Maier; Ludger Tebartz van Elst; Daniel Beier; Dieter Ebert; Thomas Fangmeier; Martina Radtke; Evgeniy Perlov; Andreas Riedel

doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2015.08.002

Increased hippocampal volumes in adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorder and an IQ>100: A manual morphometric study

Psychiatry Res. 2015 Oct 30;234(1):152-5. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2015.08.002. Epub 2015 Aug 10.

Authors

Simon Maier¹, Ludger Tebartz van Elst², Daniel Beier³, Dieter Ebert⁴, Thomas Fangmeier⁴, Martina Radtke⁵, Evgeniy Perlov¹, Andreas Riedel⁴

Affiliations

¹ 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.
² 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.
³ Section for Experimental Neuropsychiatry, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
⁴ 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.
⁵ Universitäres Zentrum Autismus Spektrum, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.

PMID: 26337007
DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2015.08.002

Abstract

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'.

Keywords: Amygdala; Autism spectrum disorder; Hippocampus.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Amygdala / pathology
Autism Spectrum Disorder / pathology*
Female
Hippocampus / pathology*
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Organ Size
Young Adult