Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41216902›Full record

ArticleHuman brain mapping2025

Age-Related Changes in the Amygdala From In Utero to Early Childhood: Association With Social and Cognitive Outcomes.

Megan E Mueller, Emily S Nichols, Sarah Al-Saoud, Barb de Vrijer, Charles A McKenzie, Roy Eagleson, Sandrine de Ribaupierre, Emma G Duerden

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Human brain mapping, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Megan E MuellerApplied Psychology, Faculty of Education, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Emily S NicholsApplied Psychology, Faculty of Education, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-0541-9233
Sarah Al-SaoudApplied Psychology, Faculty of Education, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Barb de VrijerObstetrics & Gynaecology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Charles A McKenzieDivision of Maternal, Fetal and Newborn Health, Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.
Roy EaglesonWestern Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Sandrine de RibaupierreWestern Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Emma G DuerdenApplied Psychology, Faculty of Education, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-9734-7865

Funding

Brain CanadaCanada First Research Excellence FundCIHRMolly Towell Perinatal Research FoundationNew Frontiers in Research Fund
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The amygdala is a key element of the limbic system. It is involved in emotional processing controlling responses to social, affective, or motivational stimuli, facilitating interaction with the surrounding environment. Given its importance in typical development, understanding early normative growth patterns in the amygdala can provide insights into the origins of emotional and social behaviors. This study examined age-related differences in amygdala volume from the fetal to early childhood period across six cohorts from in utero to the first 4 years of life, and explored the association with social, cognitive and communication outcomes. Amygdala volumes were analyzed in 471 participants ranging from 27 to 195 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). The results of the mixed model analyses indicated that volume significantly increased in size with age (t(534) = 7.92, p < 0.001), with the left amygdala demonstrating stronger age-related changes (p < 0.001) and with males showing steeper age-related changes compared to females (p = 0.012). In a subset of participants with developmental outcome data (n = 30), significant associations were observed for the left amygdala, with larger volumes predicting receptive communication (B = -0.02, p = 0.017), including an interaction with sex (B = 0.03, p = 0.028). Additional effects were found for social-emotional (B = -0.03, p < 0.001) and cognitive outcomes (B = -0.02, p < 0.001), with interactions by sex and age (all p < 0.05), whereas no significant findings were detected for the right amygdala. These results characterize age-related changes in amygdala volumes early in development and highlight the role of sex and laterality, while underscoring its importance in social communication during early development.

Indexed as

AmygdalaChild DevelopmentCognitionSocial BehaviorAdultChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMagnetic Resonance ImagingMalePregnancySex CharacteristicsamygdalabrainfetalhumaninfantMRIsex differencestoddler

Identifiers

PMID41216902
PMCPMC12603790

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.