The DOI matches its Crossref record; 43 of the 44 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Amygdala Enlargement in Toddlers with Autism Related to Severity of Social and Communication Impairments
Open accessAbstract
Background Autism is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder of unknown etiology. The amygdala has long been a site of intense interest in the search for neuropathology in autism, given its role in emotional and social behavior. An interesting hypothesis has emerged that the amygdala undergoes an abnormal developmental trajectory with a period of early overgrowth in autism; however this finding has not been well established at young ages nor analyzed with boys and girls independently. Methods We measured amygdala volumes on magnetic resonance imaging scans from 89 toddlers at 1-5 years of age (mean = 3 years). Each child returned at approximately 5 years of age for final clinical evaluation. Results Toddlers who later received a confirmed autism diagnosis (32 boys, 9 girls) had a larger right (p < .01) and left (p < .05) amygdala compared with typically developing toddlers (28 boys, 11 girls) with and without covarying for total cerebral volume. Amygdala size in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder correlated with the severity of their social and communication impairments as measured on the Autism Diagnostic Interview and Vineland scale. Strikingly, girls differed more robustly from typical in amygdala volume, whereas boys accounted for the significant relationship of amygdala size with severity of clinical impairment. Conclusions This study provides evidence that the amygdala is enlarged in young children with autism; the overgrowth must begin before 3 years of age and is associated with the severity of clinical impairments. However, neuroanatomic phenotypic profiles differ between males and females, which critically affects future studies on the genetics and etiology of autism.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“At the same time, ASD has been associated with enlargement of the amygdala [2-4].”
From Functional autonomic nervous system profile in children with autism spectrum disorder (2014) · cites this paper as [3]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Williams, J. B. W., & First, M. B. (2013) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.104 · Cited by 109,845
Lord, C., Rutter, M., & Le Couteur, A. (1994) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/bf02172145 · Cited by 9,065
Self-citationLord, C., Risi, S., Lambrecht, L., Cook, E. H., Leventhal, B. L., DiLavore, P. C., Pickles, A., & Rutter, M. (2000) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1023/a:1005592401947 · Cited by 7,520
Self-citationMullen Scales of Early Learning
Bradley‐Johnson, S. (1997) · Psychology in the Schools · doi:10.1002/(sici)1520-6807(199710)34:4 · Cited by 2,329
Klin, A., Jones, W., Schultz, R., Volkmar, F., & Cohen, D. (2002) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.59.9.809 · Cited by 2,120
Gaze fixation and the neural circuitry of face processing in autism
Dalton, K. M., Nacewicz, B. M., Johnstone, T., Schaefer, H. S., Gernsbacher, M. A., Goldsmith, H. H., Alexander, A. L., & Davidson, R. J. (2005) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nn1421 · Cited by 1,543
Amaral, D. G., Schumann, C. M., & Nordahl, C. W. (2008) · Trends in Neurosciences · doi:10.1016/j.tins.2007.12.005 · Cited by 1,492
Self-citationUnusual brain growth patterns in early life in patients with autistic disorder: An MRI study
Courchesne, E., Karns, C. M., Davis, H. R., Ziccardi, R., Carper, R. A., Tigue, Z. D., Chisum, H. J., Moses, P., Pierce, K., Lord, C., et al. (2001) · Neurology · doi:10.1212/wnl.57.2.245 · Cited by 1,487
Self-citationNewborns' preferential tracking of face-like stimuli and its subsequent decline
Johnson, M. H., Dziurawiec, S., Ellis, H. D., & Morton, J. (1991) · Cognition · doi:10.1016/0010-0277(91)90045-6 · Cited by 1,463
The neurobiology of social cognition
Adolphs, R. (2001) · Current Opinion in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/s0959-4388(00)00202-6 · Cited by 1,432
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Courchesne, 2001, Unusual brain growth patterns in early life in patients with autistic disorder: An MRI study, Neurology, 57, 245, 10.1212/WNL.57.2.245 · DOI · Paper page
- Mosconi, 2009, A longitudinal study of amygdala volume and joint attention in 2–4 year old children with autism, Arch Gen Psychiatry, 66, 509, 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.19 · DOI
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 301–338 of 338
Walker, D. (2017) · Coventry University Open Collections (Coventry university)
Elorette, C. (2019) · DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library)
Komunikacja dzieci z autyzmem – przegląd badań
Młynarczyk-Karabin, E. (2016) · doi:10.5604/17345537.1224357
Neuroscience and its Contribution to Neuroeducation for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Lisa, J. S., & Shyman, E. (2020) · OBM Neurobiology · doi:10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2001051
The Genetics of Amygdaloid Disorders
Shakil, M. A. (2021) · Neurology - Research & Surgery · doi:10.33425/2641-4333.1036
Neuroscience of Autism in the Legal Context
Grory, S. Y.-M., Mahoney, M. J., & Westphal, A. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-70913-6_4
Déficit da interação social em crianças e adolescentes autistas
Pegoraro, L. F. (2014) · doi:10.47749/t/unicamp.2014.923146
Communicative Acquisition in ASD
Luyster, R. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-91280-6_519
Kennedy, D. P., & Adolphs, R. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-91280-6_544
An Immune Rat Model of Autism: Does Environmental Enrichment Alter Higher Social Functioning?
Wilkin-Krug, L. C. M. (2021) · Open Access Victoria University of Wellington | Te Herenga Waka (Figshare) · doi:10.26686/wgtn.14635356.v1
Communicative Acquisition in ASD
Luyster, R. (2013) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_519
(2009) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(09)01314-6
Staal, W. (2017) · Bohn Stafleu van Loghum eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-90-368-2042-4_4
Neurobiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability
Costales, J. L., Rubeis, S. D., Foss‐Feig, J. H., Hof, P. R., Buxbaum, J. D., & Kolezvon, A. (2017) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/med/9780190681425.003.0063
Variações Anatômicas: o avanço da ciência no Brasil
Aragão, J. A. (2023) · Editora Científica Digital eBooks · doi:10.37885/978-65-5360-310-3
Aspectos comportamentais e neuroquímicos do modelo de autismo induzido por ácido valpróico em ratas
Manes, M. (2023) · Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo) · doi:10.11606/t.10.2023.tde-16052023-163046
Lv, R., Zhao, H.-C., Zhang, G., Wang, X.-R., Fu, B., Cai, X.-T., Bao, X.-Y., & Le-min, H. (2024) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3849968/v1
Chaudhary, U. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-78991-5_6
Two-Stage Attention Network for Brain Network Analysis and Potential Biomarkers DiscoveryPreprint
Chen, T., & Chen, C. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5226058
Aggression and Risk Behaviors in a Group of Adolescents with High-Functioning Autism
Moise, M., Andrei, L. E., Mihăilescu, I., Buică, A. M., & Rad, F. (2025) · Children · doi:10.3390/children12070852
Neuregulin 1 in autism spectrum disorder
Zieba, J. (2025) · Neuropsychiatria i Neuropsychologia · doi:10.5114/nan.2025.152410
TECHNIKA OKULOGRAFII W DIAGNOZIE I TERAPII DZIECI Z ZABURZENIAMI ZE SPEKTRUM AUTYZMU
Młynarczyk-Karabin, E. (2025) · Special School · doi:10.71358/ss.2376
Mueller, M. E., Nichols, E. S., Al‐Saoud, S., de Vrijer, B., McKenzie, C. A., Eagleson, R. A., de Ribaupierre, S., & Duerden, E. G. (2025) · Human Brain Mapping · doi:10.1002/hbm.70401
Zielinski, B. A., Prigge, M. B. D., Nielsen, J. A., & Lainhart, J. E. (2013) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-6843-1_7
Sullivan, D. L. (2015) · ScholarWorks (Walden University)
Saitovitch, A. (2014) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/ddd5f246z0fe4z4134z8a28z27d0a24aed40
Alterations in Amygdala and Hippocampal Volumes in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Meta-analysis
Deniz, Y., Maidi, A. Z. M., An, S.-J. L., & Hong, Y. (2026) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-026-07312-5
Chevauchement symptomatologique et reconnaissance des émotions : approche cross-syndromique
Benkessas, T. (2018) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/719aa288z2dd9z4a87z9005z724983485c82
Applying multidimensional approaches to disentangle autism spectrum disorder heterogeneity
Mihailov, A. (2021) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/b9bfc6a7za998z4d56z9380z5ec7781bc4ac
d’Albis, M.-A. (2020) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/206f79f9z2fd3z499fz9abdz096c72713a99
Laurén, K., Järvelä, M., Huotari, N., Raitamaa, L., Kananen, J., Tuunanen, J., Väyrynen, T., Korhonen, V. O., Hautamäki, K., Hurtig, T. M., et al. (2026) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121908
Les troubles du spectre autistique au Liban : une étude épidémiologique et génétique
Gerges, P. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/f14fade5z5081z4718za5b2zd91f27aa6992
Martinez, G. C., Winder, A. J., Amador, K., Uruñuela, E., Wilms, M., MacEachern, S. J., & Forkert, N. D. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1841698
Transcriptomic Profiling of the Amygdala of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Babu, J., Lal, A., Challagundla, L., Allen, O., Griffin, M. L., Gisabella, B., & Pantazopoulos, H. (2026) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.70333
Newell, A. J., Massri, A. J., Gillera, S. E. A., Berger, J. M., Panduri, V., Liu, L., Gerrish, K., & Patisaul, H. B. (2026) · NeuroToxicology · doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2026.103546
Metadata
- Authors
- Schumann, C. M., Barnes, C. C., Lord, C., & Courchesne, E.
- Affiliations
- University of California San Diego (US)
- University of Michigan (US)
- Corresponding author
- Schumann, Cynthia Mills
- Venue
- Biological Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-11
- Volume
- 66
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 942-949
- ISSN
- 0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2795360
- OpenAlex
- W2022043519
- Cited by
- 340
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 23
- FWCI
- 10.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (P50MH081755)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS019855)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, amygdala enlargement, amygdala volume, toddlers, social dysfunction, communication disorders, autism severity, sex differences, brain overgrowth, neurodevelopmental disorders, autism etiology
- MeSH terms
- Amygdala, Analysis of Variance, Autistic Disorder, Child, Preschool, Communication Disorders, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Infant, Functional Laterality, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Sex Factors, Social Behavior Disorders, Linear Models
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
