Increased amygdala volumes in female and depressed humans. A quantitative magnetic resonance imaging study

The amygdala are thought to play an important role in emotional information processing. First studies indicate a link between amygdala atrophy, fear a nd aggression and between amygdala hypertrophy and depression. To investiga te a possible relationship between amygdala volumes, aggression and depress ion, we measured the amygdala of 62 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (T LE) with and without aggressive behavior or depression and 20 healthy volun teers using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Amygdala volumes of female patients (n = 26) were significantly larger than those of males (n = 36) (left side: P = 0.001; right side P = 0.05). Depressed patients di splayed significant enlargement of both amygdala (left side: P = 0.008; rig ht side: P = 0.001) There was no significant finding relating to the factor aggression neither was there any significant interaction between aggressio n, dysthymia and gender. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.