Reliable non-invasive measurement of human neurochemistry using proton spectroscopy with an anatomically defined amygdala-specific voxel

► No reliable magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) technique isolates amygdala. ► 3 studies of amygdala-specific MRS with 106 sessions from 58 volunteers aged 10-52 y. ► Easier in children before temporal airspaces distort field, but can null this effect. ► Extremely sensitive to partial inclusion of centromedial and basolateral regions.