Scientists identify overgrowth of key brain structure in babies who later develop autism
Research led by Drs. Mark Shen, Heather Hazlett and Joseph Piven from UNC-Chapel Hill is the first to demonstrate overgrowth of the amygdala in the first year of life, before babies show most of the behavioral symptoms that later consolidate into a diagnosis of autism. This overgrowth may be unique to autism, as babies with fragile X syndrome show a different brain growth pattern.
Source: unc.edu