Cited by 556Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorMemory and Neural MechanismsNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Amygdala volume and social network size in humans

Open access
Bickart, Kevin C, Wright, Christopher I, Dautoff, Rebecca J, Dickerson, Bradford C, Barrett, Lisa Feldman·2011·Nature Neuroscience

Abstract

We found that amygdala volume correlates with the size and complexity of social networks in adult humans. An exploratory analysis of subcortical structures did not find strong evidence for similar relationships with any other structure, but there were associations between social network variables and cortical thickness in three cortical areas, two of them with amygdala connectivity. These findings indicate that the amygdala is important in social behavior.

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  • In humans, social network size significantly correlates with grey matter density of regions constituting the social brain, including the amygdala and posterior superior temporal sulcus (STS).

    “In humans, studies have shown that social network size significantly correlates with grey matter density of regions constituting the social brain”

    From Baboons (Papio anubis) living in larger social groups have bigger brains. (2021) · cites this paper as Bickart et al., 2011

  • Greater amygdala volume is linked to more social sensitivity in general rather than specifically to threats.

    “For example, large amygdala volume is positively associated not only with separation anxiety (Redlich et al., 2015) but also with mental state inference (Rice et al., 2014) and social network size and complexity (Bickart et al., 2011, Kanai et al., 2012), including in adolescents (Von der Heide et al., 2014).”

    From Adolescent neurobiological susceptibility to social context (2016) · cites this paper as Bickart et al., 2011

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [3]Buchanan TW Tranel D Adolphs R The human amygdala in social function The human amygdala Whalen PJ Phelps EA 289 318 The Guilford Press New York 2009

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Authors
Bickart, K. C., Wright, C. I., Dautoff, R. J., Dickerson, B. C., & Barrett, L. F.
Affiliations
  • Boston University (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Northeastern University (US)
Corresponding author
Barrett, Lisa Feldman
Venue
Nature Neuroscience
Published
2010-12-26
Volume
14
Issue
2
Pages
163-164
ISSN
  • 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-1726
OpenAlex
W2089304376
Cited by
556
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 22 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 95 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 37 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 45 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 34 · 2013: 38 · 2012: 38
FWCI
40.91
Type
journal article
Language
en
Update notices
erratum (2011-08-26)
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (DP1OD003312)
  • National Institute on Aging (R21-AG29840, R21AG029840, R01AG030311, R01AG029411)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
amygdala volume, social network size, subcortical structures, cortical thickness, amygdala connectivity, human brain
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Amygdala, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Middle Aged, Organ Size, Social Behavior, Social Support, Linear Models

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