TY - JOUR
T1 - Callous-unemotional traits and brain structure
T2 - Sex-specific effects in anterior insula of typically-developing youths
AU - Raschle, Nora Maria
AU - Menks, Willeke Martine
AU - Fehlbaum, Lynn Valérie
AU - Steppan, Martin
AU - Smaragdi, Areti
AU - Gonzalez-Madruga, Karen
AU - Rogers, Jack
AU - Clanton, Roberta
AU - Kohls, Gregor
AU - Martinelli, Anne
AU - Bernhard, Anka
AU - Konrad, Kerstin
AU - Herpertz-Dahlmann, Beate
AU - Freitag, Christine M.
AU - Fairchild, Graeme
AU - De Brito, Stephane A.
AU - Stadler, Christina
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - Callous-unemotional traits are characterized by a lack of empathy, a disregard for others' feelings and shallow or deficient affect, such as a lack of remorse or guilt. Neuroanatomical correlates of callous-unemotional traits have been demonstrated in clinical samples (i.e., adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders). However, it is unknown whether callous-unemotional traits are associated with neuroanatomical correlates within normative populations without clinical levels of aggression or antisocial behavior. Here we investigated the relationship between callous-unemotional traits and gray matter volume using voxel-based morphometry in a large sample of typically-developing boys and girls (N = 189). Whole-brain multiple regression analyses controlling for site, total intracranial volume, and age were conducted in the whole sample and in boys and girls individually. Results revealed that sex and callous-unemotional traits interacted to predict gray matter volume when considering the whole sample. This interaction was driven by a significant positive correlation between callous-unemotional traits and bilateral anterior insula volume in boys, but not girls. Insula gray matter volume explained 19% of the variance in callous-unemotional traits for boys. Our results demonstrate that callous-unemotional traits are related to variations in brain structure beyond psychiatric samples. This association was observed for boys only, underlining the importance of considering sex as a factor in future research designs. Future longitudinal studies should determine whether these findings hold over childhood and adolescence, and whether the neuroanatomical correlates of callous-unemotional traits are predictive of future psychiatric vulnerability. General scientific summary This study suggests that callous-unemotional traits have a neuroanatomical correlate within typically developing boys, but not girls. Bilateral anterior insula volume explains up to 19% of the variance in callous-unemotional traits in boys.
AB - Callous-unemotional traits are characterized by a lack of empathy, a disregard for others' feelings and shallow or deficient affect, such as a lack of remorse or guilt. Neuroanatomical correlates of callous-unemotional traits have been demonstrated in clinical samples (i.e., adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders). However, it is unknown whether callous-unemotional traits are associated with neuroanatomical correlates within normative populations without clinical levels of aggression or antisocial behavior. Here we investigated the relationship between callous-unemotional traits and gray matter volume using voxel-based morphometry in a large sample of typically-developing boys and girls (N = 189). Whole-brain multiple regression analyses controlling for site, total intracranial volume, and age were conducted in the whole sample and in boys and girls individually. Results revealed that sex and callous-unemotional traits interacted to predict gray matter volume when considering the whole sample. This interaction was driven by a significant positive correlation between callous-unemotional traits and bilateral anterior insula volume in boys, but not girls. Insula gray matter volume explained 19% of the variance in callous-unemotional traits for boys. Our results demonstrate that callous-unemotional traits are related to variations in brain structure beyond psychiatric samples. This association was observed for boys only, underlining the importance of considering sex as a factor in future research designs. Future longitudinal studies should determine whether these findings hold over childhood and adolescence, and whether the neuroanatomical correlates of callous-unemotional traits are predictive of future psychiatric vulnerability. General scientific summary This study suggests that callous-unemotional traits have a neuroanatomical correlate within typically developing boys, but not girls. Bilateral anterior insula volume explains up to 19% of the variance in callous-unemotional traits in boys.
KW - Callous-unemotional traits
KW - Insula
KW - Pediatric neuroimaging
KW - Sex differences
KW - Voxel-based morphometry
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85038950126&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.12.015
DO - 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.12.015
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85038950126
SN - 2213-1582
VL - 17
SP - 856
EP - 864
JO - Neuroimage Clinical
JF - Neuroimage Clinical
ER -