The amygdala theory of autism

Baron‐Cohen, Simon; Ring, Howard; Bullmore, Edward T.; Wheelwright, Sally; Ashwin, Chris; Williams, Steven

doi:10.1016/s0149-7634(00)00011-7

Cited by 955 publications

(682 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…Supporting the hypothesis that amygdala dysfunction contributes to face processing abnormalities in ASD are some commonalities between ASD and patients with bilateral amygdala lesions (reviewed in [211,212]), including deficits in fear-face recognition, bias towards rating faces as more trustworthy and approachable [210], atypical patterns of face viewing [55,56] (but see [57]) and failure to attribute social intention to moving geometric shapes [213]. Other lines of evidence implicating amygdala dysfunction in ASD include evidence for amygdala neuropathology from post-mortem studies [214], and autistic-like social and emotional behavior among non-human primates with amygdala lesions early during infancy [215] (but see [216]).…”

Section: Impairments Of Facial Expression Recognition In Asdmentioning

confidence: 92%

Autism and the development of face processing

Golarai

Grill-Spector

Reiss

2006

Clinical Neuroscience Research

156

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Autism is a pervasive developmental condition, characterized by impairments in non-verbal communication, social relationships and stereotypical patterns of behavior. A large body of evidence suggests that several aspects of face processing are impaired in autism, including anomalies in gaze processing, memory for facial identity and recognition of facial expressions of emotion. In search of neural markers of anomalous face processing in autism, much interest has focused on a network of brain regions that are implicated in social cognition and face processing. In this review, we will focus on three such regions, namely the STS for its role in processing gaze and facial movements, the FFA in face detection and identification and the amygdala in processing facial expressions of emotion. Much evidence suggests that a better understanding of the normal development of these specialized regions is essential for discovering the neural bases of face processing anomalies in autism. Thus, we will also examine the available literature on the normal development of face processing. Key unknowns in this research area are the neuro-developmental processes, the role of experience and the interactions among components of the face processing system in shaping each of the specialized regions for processing faces during normal development and in autism. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Association for Research in Nervous and Mental Disease.

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Section: Impairments Of Facial Expression Recognition In Asdmentioning

confidence: 92%

Autism and the development of face processing

Golarai

Grill-Spector

Reiss

2006

Clinical Neuroscience Research

156

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…[41,42] In particular, functional dysregulation of the amygdala is considered central to the social deficits observed in individuals with ASD. [43] Although this "amygdala theory of autism" has been challenged by some, [44] there is certainly evidence that the amygdala has relevance for the development of social behavior and socio-emotional processing across species. Amygdala lesions in humans and non-human primates seem to diminish social inhibition and limit social perception, increasing social interaction and interfering with adherence to social norms.…”

Section: Mood Disorders and Amygdala Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gutsy Moves: The Amygdala as a Critical Node in Microbiota to Brain Signaling

et al. 2017

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The amygdala is a key brain area regulating responses to stress and emotional stimuli, so improving our understanding of how it is regulated could offer novel strategies for treating disturbances in emotion regulation. As we review here, a growing body of evidence indicates that the gut microbiota may contribute to a range of amygdala-dependent brain functions from pain sensitivity to social behavior, emotion regulation, and therefore, psychiatric health. In addition, it appears that the microbiota is necessary for normal development of the amygdala at both the structural and functional levels. While further investigations are needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms of microbiota-to-amygdala communication, ultimately, this work raises the intriguing possibility that the gut microbiota may become a viable treatment target in disorders associated with amygdala dysregulation, including visceral pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, and beyond. Also see the video abstract here: https://youtu.be/O5gvxVJjX18

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“…With the ASD population in particular, emotional awareness may be a prerequisite to attentional deployment [Rieffe et al, 2011]. Research suggests that individuals with ASD have difficulties recognizing their own and others' emotions [Baron-Cohen et al, 2000], are significantly more alexithymic than their peers [Hill et al, 2004;Tani et al, 2004;Williams & Happé, 2010], and have a higher likelihood of focusing on negative or irrelevant information than their peers [Embregts & van Nieuwenhuijzen, 2009]. Some preliminary evidence suggests that these irregular patterns of responding in individuals with ASD are based in atypical physiological responses to emotional stimuli, such as less arousal to sad expressions than typical controls [Bölte, Feineis-Matthews, & Poustka, 2008].…”

Section: Modal Model Of Ermentioning

confidence: 99%

A Systematic Literature Review of Emotion Regulation Measurement in Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder

2014

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Emotion regulation (ER) difficulties are a potential common factor underlying the presentation of multiple emotional and behavioral problems in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). To provide an overview of how ER has been studied in individuals with ASD, we conducted a systematic review of the past 20 years of ER research in the ASD population, using established keywords from the most comprehensive ER literature review of the typically developing population to date. Out of an initial sampling of 305 studies, 32 were eligible for review. We examined the types of methods (self-report, informant report, naturalistic observation/ behavior coding, physiological, and open-ended) and the ER constructs based on Gross and Thompson's modal model (situation selection, situation modification, attention deployment, cognitive change, and response modulation). Studies most often assessed ER using one type of method and from a unidimensional perspective. Across the 32 studies, we documented the types of measures used and found that 38% of studies used self-report, 44% included an informant report measure, 31% included at least one naturalistic observation/behavior coding measure, 13% included at least one physiological measure, and 13% included at least one open-ended measure. Only 25% of studies used more than one method of measurement. The findings of the current review provide the field with an in-depth analysis of various ER measures and how each measure taps into an ER framework. Future research can use this model to examine ER in a multicomponent way and through multiple methods. Autism Res 2014, 7: 629-648 [American Psychiatric Association, 2013], and there is considerable evidence that the majority also struggle with associated emotional problems. For instance, in a population derived cohort of 5-to 16-year-olds, Totsika, Hastings, Emerson, Lancaster, and Berridge [2011] found that 85% of youth with ASD without an intellectual disability (ID) had clinically significant levels of hyperactivity, 74% of emotional problems, and 64% of conduct problems, compared to much lower rates in a typically developing comparison group (19% hyperactivity, 18% emotional problems, and 22% conduct problems). Further, youth with ID and ASD had higher rates of emotional disorders than those with only ID (88% vs. 63% for hyperactivity, 71% vs. 42% for emotional problems, and 65% vs. 46% for conduct problems, respectively). There is also considerable co-occurrence of multiple emotional problems in individuals with ASD. Approximately 40-50% of youth with ASD are estimated to meet criteria for two or more psychiatric disorders, often combining attentional or behavioral problems (e.g. ADHD) with internalizing problems (e.g. anxiety disorder), even after taking into account symptoms that may be related to core ASD sociocommunicative and behavioral symptoms [Leyfer et al., 2006;Simonoff et al., 2008].

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The amygdala theory of autism

Cited by 955 publications

References 79 publications

Autism and the development of face processing

Autism and the development of face processing

Gutsy Moves: The Amygdala as a Critical Node in Microbiota to Brain Signaling

A Systematic Literature Review of Emotion Regulation Measurement in Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder

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