Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Assessment of Social Interaction Behaviors
Published on: February 25, 2011
Neural correlates of genetically abnormal social cognition in Williams syndrome
Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg1, Ahmad R Hariri, Karen E Munoz
1Section on Integrative Neuroimaging, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. andreasml@nih.gov
Abstract:
Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS), caused by a microdeletion of approximately 21 genes on chromosome 7q11.23, is characterized by unique hypersociability combined with increased non-social anxiety. Using functional neuroimaging, we found reduced amygdala activation in individuals with WBS for threatening faces but increased activation for threatening scenes, relative to matched normal controls. Activation and interactions of prefrontal regions linked to amygdala, especially orbitofrontal cortex, were abnormal, suggesting a genetically controlled neural circuitry for regulating human social behavior.
Related Concept Videos
Causes of Social Behavior II: Cognitive Processes
Language and Cognition
Social Anxiety Disorder
Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences
Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

