Amygdala volume and social network size in humans

• Published in: Nature neuroscience Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 163 - 164
• Main Authors: Barrett, Lisa Feldman, Bickart, Kevin C, Wright, Christopher I, Dautoff, Rebecca J, Dickerson, Bradford C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01-02-2011; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/378/1457/1284; 631/378/2645; 631/378/2649; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Amygdala (Brain); Amygdala - anatomy & histology; Amygdala - physiology; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Behavioral Sciences; Biological Techniques; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brain; brief-communication; Genetic aspects; Humans; Hypotheses; Interpersonal Relations; Linear Models; Middle Aged; Monkeys & apes; Neurobiology; Neurosciences; Organ Size; Physiological aspects; Regression analysis; Social Behavior; Social life & customs; Social networks; Social Support; United States; United States > US; Massachusetts
• ISSN: 1097-6256; 1546-1726; 1546-1726
• DOI: 10.1038/nn.2724

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.