Bio Exp Amygdala Flashcards
(6 cards)
What is the amygdala
Part of the limbic system
Fear and emotional processing
Connections to prefrontal, cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus and other areas
Amygdala development
Nordahl et al
Found that from two years of age there is a larger growth in amygdala volume in children with ASD (6-9%)
By late adolescence there is no difference in amygdala volume between those with ASD and those without
The growth in volume of the amygdala occurs earlier in children with ASD and this may result in abnormalities of the amygdala and damage to its functioning
The amygdala is part of the …….. brain
Social
Baron-Cohen
Amygdala has neural connections with the frontal cortex abnormal development in childhood is a causal factor involved in social and behavioural deficits
Therefore those with ASD have difficulties in understanding the expression of emotions in others
Baron-Cohens study
Emotions in the eye
Adults either ASD were matched with a control of adults without ASD
Ps were presented with photographs that only showed the eye area of people making different facial expressions
They were then asked to identify the facial expression
Their brain activity was measured in an FMRI scanner during the task
Those with ASD performed significantly worse on the eye task than the controls.
FMRI showed that the left amygdala was not activated in the ASD ps at all but was strongly activated in the controls
Applying explanations to methods of modifying
Amygdala dysfunction= oxytocin
If research suggests that amygdala dysfunction is a cause of ASD behaviours related to social behaviours and emotional processing, then improving the function of the amygdala may help reduce these behaviours. Intranasal oxytocin has been found to enter the brain effectively and work to increase oxytocin levels in areas such as the limbic system, where the amygdala is located. Some studies have show. That the. People with ASD take intranasal oxytocin, they show improved scores on tests of social behaviours.
