Amygdaloid and Hippocampal Volumetric Variations and the Effects of the Feelings of Hopelessness and Helplessness

Abstract

Volumetry was performed on the basis pontis, amygdaloid body, and hippocampus proper in 700 normal MRI scans. The volume of the basis pontis was found to remain relatively constant across all age groups until the eighth decade. The consistency of volume of the basis pontis was used to derive volume ratios of the amygdaloid body and hippocampus proper. The volumes of the amygdaloid body and hippocampus proper remained relatively constant until the end of the sixth decade after which atrophy became significant. The volume ratio of the right hippocampus was greater than the left over all age groups. These analyses provided a baseline from which comparisons to clinical cases could be made. Volumetry of the same three structures was performed on a cohort of 80 clinical MRI scans and correlated with scores of hopelessness and helplessness derived from self- reporting questionnaires. A correlation was noted of hippocampal proper atrophy and amygdaloid body atrophy in relation to helplessness, but with questionable significance. Further studies exploring these relationships are required to fully determine potential relationships and diagnostic significance between amygdaloid body and hippocampus proper atrophy and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.