White matter integrity deficits in prefrontal-amygdala pathways in Williams syndrome

►Individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) have significant non-social fears. ►Threatening non-social images elicit amygdala hyperactivity in individuals with WS. ►Amygdala activity is inhibited by the prefrontal cortex (PFC). ►Individuals with WS have lower white matter integrity in PFC-amygdala pathways. ►PFC-amygdala white matter deficits may contribute to amygdala hyperactivity in WS.