Stimulating neural activity between the amygdala and the nucleus accumbens — a brain region associated with pleasure — impairs social function even though mice find the stimulation rewarding, a new study published by Vanderbilt researchers in The Journal of Clinical Investigation reports.
While it has been shown that both the amygdala and parts of the nucleus accumbens are interconnected and are independently involved in autism spectrum disorders, of which social function is a core deficit, the connection between these two areas and its potential role in social function and autism isn’t understood.
