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Updated: May 3, 2026

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
Structural and functional bases of inhibited temperament
Jacqueline A Clauss1, April L Seay1, Ross M VanDerKlok2
1Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical School, 1601 23rd Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212, USA, Department of Clinical Psychology, Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601, USA, Department of Biostatistics, Middle Tennessee State University, 1301 E. Main St, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA, Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN 37235, USA, Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical School, 116 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203, USA, and Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical School, 2200 Children's Way, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Children with inhibited temperament show differences in brain structure, specifically larger amygdala and caudate volumes. These brain variations may increase the risk for psychiatric disorders like anxiety and depression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Inhibited temperament in children is linked to increased risk for anxiety, depression, and substance use.
- While believed to have a biological basis, the specific structural brain differences underlying inhibited temperament are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural brain correlates of inhibited temperament in young adults.
- To identify novel brain structures associated with this vulnerability trait.
Main Methods:
- Structural MRI scans were acquired from 84 young adults (44 inhibited, 40 uninhibited).
- Comparisons focused on amygdala structure and included whole-brain analyses.
- Functional activation and connectivity were examined in relation to temperament groups.
Main Results:
- Inhibited adults exhibited larger amygdala and caudate volumes compared to uninhibited adults.
- Larger amygdala volume correlated with increased activation to neutral faces and enhanced connectivity with subcortical and visual areas.
- Larger caudate volume was associated with greater basal ganglia connectivity and reduced connectivity with primary sensory cortices.
Conclusions:
- Enlarged amygdala and caudate volumes in inhibited individuals may contribute to heightened responses to social stimuli.
- These structural brain differences represent potential targets for novel therapeutic interventions to mitigate psychiatric illness risk.
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