Faculty

Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry - Neuroscience

Supervisor Name

Dr. Derek Mitchell

Keywords

cognitive affective neuroscience, structural, surface-based morphometry

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Description

We aimed to delineate the neuroanatomical basis of callous-unemotional traits and aggression in youth. Callous-unemotional traits and aggression are two constructs used to represent psychopathy in youth (as psychopathy is not diagnosed in this population). By revealing structural abnormalities in the brain that underlie these antisocial behavioural patterns, we hope to inform future clinical research to discover better treatments, and thus better outcomes for society.

To determine which youth within our sample had high levels of callous-unemotional traits and aggression, we had the youth in our sample complete two surveys: the inventory of callous-unemotional traits (ICU) and the aggressive behaviour rating scale (ABRS). High scores on these surveys are associated with behavioural and emotional profiles closely matching those of psychopathy (increased psychopathic traits, high levels of aggression, substantially larger number of future violent offenses).

Next, we collected neurostructural data in the form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a 3-Tesla scanner from Western's Center for Metabolic Mapping. In the resulting MRI outputs, we analyzed region-specific grey matter volume, surface area, and thickness to determine how the brains of youth with high levels of callous-unemotional traits and aggression differ from normal youth brains. We found significant correlates in a few brain regions specific to empathy and emotional regulation, namely the anterior cingulate cortex, the amygdala, and temporal cortex.

In the future, we plan to investigate white matter and functional abnormalities involved in callous-unemotional traits and aggression, using data that we collected from the same sample!

Acknowledgements

Thank you to everyone in the Mitchell Lab who made my summer so wonderful. Additionally, thank you to all who provided the funds for this grant. They went to good use - I learned a lot and had fun while doing it :)

Document Type

Video

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The Neural Basis of Callous-Unemotional Traits & Aggression in Youth

We aimed to delineate the neuroanatomical basis of callous-unemotional traits and aggression in youth. Callous-unemotional traits and aggression are two constructs used to represent psychopathy in youth (as psychopathy is not diagnosed in this population). By revealing structural abnormalities in the brain that underlie these antisocial behavioural patterns, we hope to inform future clinical research to discover better treatments, and thus better outcomes for society.

To determine which youth within our sample had high levels of callous-unemotional traits and aggression, we had the youth in our sample complete two surveys: the inventory of callous-unemotional traits (ICU) and the aggressive behaviour rating scale (ABRS). High scores on these surveys are associated with behavioural and emotional profiles closely matching those of psychopathy (increased psychopathic traits, high levels of aggression, substantially larger number of future violent offenses).

Next, we collected neurostructural data in the form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a 3-Tesla scanner from Western's Center for Metabolic Mapping. In the resulting MRI outputs, we analyzed region-specific grey matter volume, surface area, and thickness to determine how the brains of youth with high levels of callous-unemotional traits and aggression differ from normal youth brains. We found significant correlates in a few brain regions specific to empathy and emotional regulation, namely the anterior cingulate cortex, the amygdala, and temporal cortex.

In the future, we plan to investigate white matter and functional abnormalities involved in callous-unemotional traits and aggression, using data that we collected from the same sample!