AMYGDALA DYSFUNCTION

Question 1

STRUCTURE & FUNCTIONS

Answer 1

• cluster of 13 Nuclei in medial temporal lobe
• one in each brain hemisphere
• one of the brains most highly networked structures
• Neural connections to the hypothalamus prefrontal cortex hippocampus and other parts of the Brain
• has powerful influence on brain activity and on behaviours such as those associated with motivation emotion and social interaction

Question 2

AMYGDALA DEVELOPMENT IN ASD

Answer 2

• develops in different ways in children with and without ASD
• those with ASD have a larger growth than normal at 2 years (6-9%) nordahl et al
• without increases but only when children are older
• when reaching adolescence or adulthood no difference
• those with ASD growth occurs earlier and unusual development pattern may result in abnormalities in neural organisation of the amygdala or damage it’s functioning

Question 3

AMYGDALA DYSFUNCTION THEORY

Answer 3

• Leslie brothers states the amygdala is part of the social brain as it majorly influences social behaviour
• Simon baron-Cohen suggested that as it has many connections with frontal cortex abnormal development in childhood is the main cause of behavioural deficits such as social perception behaviour and social information
• baron-Cohen found that adult ASD and non adult ASD where presented with photos of just eyes making various facial experessions and had their brains measured in an FMRI scan those with ASD performed worse and left amygdala was not activated where as non ASD was