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Prefrontal cortex structural and developmental associations with callous-unemotional traits and aggression
Nathan Hostetler1, Tamara P Tavares1,2, Mary B Ritchie1,3
1Brain and Mind Institute, Western Interdisciplinary Research Building, Room 3190, Western University, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada.
Scientific Reports
|February 20, 2024
Summary
Youths with callous-unemotional (CU) traits and aggression show age-related changes in brain structure, specifically in the medial orbitofrontal cortex. These findings suggest delayed cortical maturation may influence antisocial behavior development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- High callous-unemotional (CU) traits and aggression in youth predict adult antisocial behaviors.
- Neurostructural abnormalities, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, are linked to these traits, but developmental trajectories are unclear.
- Few studies have explored age-dependent neurodevelopmental patterns for CU traits and aggression subtypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between grey matter volume/surface area and CU traits and aggression subtypes in adolescents.
- To determine if these neurostructural associations change with age.
- To explore potential delayed cortical maturation in high-risk youth.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used to assess grey matter in 54 youths aged 10-19 years.
- Participants were evaluated for CU traits and different aggression subtypes (reactive, proactive, total).
- Statistical analyses examined correlations between neurostructural measures and behavioral traits, considering age as a moderator.
Main Results:
- Positive associations were found between anterior cingulate cortex volume/surface area and CU traits.
- The relationship between CU traits and medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) volume varied significantly with age, becoming more positive as age increased.
- Similarly, the association between reactive aggression and mOFC surface area became more positive with age; no significant findings for proactive/total aggression.
Conclusions:
- Brain structure-cortical maturation in the mOFC may be delayed in adolescents with high CU traits and reactive aggression.
- Age-dependent changes in neurodevelopment are crucial for understanding the link between CU traits, aggression, and future antisocial behaviors.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering developmental trajectories in the neurobiology of youth psychopathology.
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