Antisocial behavior is associated with reduced frontoparietal network efficiency in youth

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Adolescent Psychiatry

Background:

• Youth antisocial behavior (AB) is linked to socioemotional and executive functioning deficits.
• These deficits may stem from altered neural network structure, function, and connectivity.
• The precise relationship between AB and network organization, particularly the frontoparietal network, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between antisocial behavior (AB) and brain network topology in adolescents.
• To examine the moderating role of callous-unemotional (CU) traits in this relationship.
• To explore neural network differences in a cohort enriched for poverty exposure.

Main Methods:

• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from 161 adolescents were analyzed using unweighted, undirected graph analyses.
• Antisocial behavior (AB) and callous-unemotional (CU) traits were assessed using multi-informant latent factors.
• The frontoparietal, default mode, and salience networks were examined for topological differences.

Main Results:

• Antisocial behavior (AB) was associated with less efficient frontoparietal network topology.
• This association was specific to adolescents with low or average levels of callous-unemotional (CU) traits.
• No significant relationships were found between AB, CU traits, or their interaction with default or salience network topologies.

Conclusions:

• Antisocial behavior (AB) in adolescents may be characterized by altered frontoparietal network architecture, impacting executive functioning.
• The findings highlight the specificity of neural correlates of AB, independent of high CU traits.
• Future research should explore the dynamic interplay between neural networks and behavioral outcomes in youth.