Using novel control groups to dissect the amygdala's role in Williams syndrome.

ABSTRACT: Williams syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder with an intriguing behavioral phenotype-hypersociability combined with significant non-social fears. Previous studies have demonstrated abnormalities in amygdala function in individuals with Williams syndrome compared to typically-developing controls. However, it remains unclear whether the findings are related to the atypical neurodevelopment of Williams syndrome, or are also associated with behavioral traits at the extreme end of a normal continuum. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare amygdala blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) responses to non-social and social images in individuals with Williams syndrome compared to either individuals with inhibited temperament (high non-social fear) or individuals wit

SUBMITTER: Thornton-Wells TA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3124852 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature