scholarly journals Individual differences in brain structure and self-reported empathy in children

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Olivia Bray ◽  
Elena Pozzi ◽  
Nandita Vijayakumar ◽  
Sally Richmond ◽  
Camille Deane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Cognitive Empathy ◽  
Empathic Concern ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Matter Volume

Empathy refers to the understanding and sharing of others’ emotions and comprises cognitive and affective components. Empathy is important for social functioning, and alterations in empathy have been demonstrated in many developmental/psychiatric disorders. While several studies have examined associations between empathy and brain structure in adults, few have investigated this relationship in children. Investigating associations between empathy and brain structure during childhood will help us develop a deeper understanding of the neural correlates of empathy across the lifespan.125 children (66 female, mean age 10 years) underwent MRI brain scans. Grey matter volume and cortical thickness from T1-weighted structural images were examined using the CAT12 toolbox within SPM12. Children completed questionnaire measures of empathy (cognitive empathy, affective empathy: affective sharing, empathic concern, empathic distress).In hypothesised region of interest analyses, individual differences in affective and cognitive empathy were related to grey matter volume in the insula and the precuneus. Although these relationships were of similar strength to those found in previous research, they did not survive correction for the total number of models computed. While no significant findings were detected between grey matter volume and empathy in exploratory whole-brain analysis, associations were found between cortical thickness and empathic concern in the right precentral gyrus.This study provides preliminary evidence that individual differences in self-reported empathy in children may be related to aspects of brain structure. Findings highlight the need for more research investigating the neurobiological correlates of empathy in children.

scholarly journals Neuroanatomical correlates of forgiving unintentional harms

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Indrajeet Patil ◽  
Marta Calo ◽  
Federico fFornasier ◽  
Liane Young ◽  
Giorgia Silani
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Moral Judgments ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Voxel Based Morphometry ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Matter Volume

Mature moral judgments rely on the consideration of the perpetrator’s mental state as well as the harmfulness of the outcomes produced. Prior work has focused primarily on the functional correlates of how intent information is neurally represented for moral judgments, but few studies have investigated whether individual differences in neuroanatomy can also explain variation in moral judgments. In the current study, we conducted voxel-based morphometry analyses combined with functional magnetic resonance imaging to address this question. We found that local grey matter volume in left anterior superior temporal sulcus, a region in the functionally defined theory of mind or mentalizing network, was associated with the degree to which participants relied on information about innocent intentions to forgive accidental harms. Our findings provide further support for the key role of mentalizing in the forgiveness of accidental harms and contribute preliminary evidence for the neuroanatomical basis of individual differences in moral judgments.

scholarly journals Mapping migraine to a common brain network

Brain ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (2) ◽  
pp. 541-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J Burke ◽  
Juho Joutsa ◽  
Alexander L Cohen ◽  
Louis Soussand ◽  
Danielle Cooke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Generalized Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Network Mapping

Abstract Inconsistent findings from migraine neuroimaging studies have limited attempts to localize migraine symptomatology. Novel brain network mapping techniques offer a new approach for linking neuroimaging findings to a common neuroanatomical substrate and localizing therapeutic targets. In this study, we attempted to determine whether neuroanatomically heterogeneous neuroimaging findings of migraine localize to a common brain network. We used meta-analytic coordinates of decreased grey matter volume in migraineurs as seed regions to generate resting state functional connectivity network maps from a normative connectome (n = 1000). Network maps were overlapped to identify common regions of connectivity across all coordinates. Specificity of our findings was evaluated using a whole-brain Bayesian spatial generalized linear mixed model and a region of interest analysis with comparison groups of chronic pain and a neurologic control (Alzheimer’s disease). We found that all migraine coordinates (11/11, 100%) were negatively connected (t ≥ ±7, P < 10−6 family-wise error corrected for multiple comparisons) to a single location in left extrastriate visual cortex overlying dorsal V3 and V3A subregions. More than 90% of coordinates (10/11) were also positively connected with bilateral insula and negatively connected with the hypothalamus. Bayesian spatial generalized linear mixed model whole-brain analysis identified left V3/V3A as the area with the most specific connectivity to migraine coordinates compared to control coordinates (voxel-wise probability of ≥90%). Post hoc region of interest analyses further supported the specificity of this finding (ANOVA P = 0.02; pairwise t-tests P = 0.03 and P = 0.003, respectively). In conclusion, using coordinate-based network mapping, we show that regions of grey matter volume loss in migraineurs localize to a common brain network defined by connectivity to visual cortex V3/V3A, a region previously implicated in mechanisms of cortical spreading depression in migraine. Our findings help unify migraine neuroimaging literature and offer a migraine-specific target for neuromodulatory treatment.

scholarly journals Sex Differences in Brain Structure Account for the Sexual Distinction on Balanced Time Perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Chen ◽  
Zhi Li ◽  
Ji-fang Cui ◽  
Jia Huang ◽  
Muireann Irish ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Time Perspective ◽  
Supplementary Motor Area ◽  
Motor Area ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Balanced Time Perspective

Abstract Sex differences in behaviour and cognition have been widely observed, however, little is known about such differences in maintaining a balanced time perspective or their potential underlying neural substrates. To answer the above questions, two studies were conducted. In Study 1, time perspective was assessed in 1,913 college students, including 771 males and 1,092 females, and demonstrated that females had a significantly more balanced time perspective than males. In Study 2, 58 males and 47 females underwent assessment of time perspective and structural brain imaging. Voxel-based morphometry analysis and cortical thickness analysis were used to analyse the structural imaging data. Results showed that compared with males, females demonstrated a more balanced time perspective, which primarily related to lower grey matter volume in left precuneus, right cerebellum, right putamen and left supplementary motor area. Analysis of cortical thickness failed to reveal any significant sex differences. Furthermore, the sex difference in grey matter volume of left precuneus, right cerebellum, right putamen and left supplementary motor area could account for the difference in balanced time perspective between males and females. The findings deepen our understanding of sex differences in human cognition and their potential neural signature, and may inform tailored interventions to support a balanced time perspective in daily life.

scholarly journals Late chronotype is linked to greater cortical thickness in the left fusiform and entorhinal gyri

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Rafal Zareba ◽  
Magdalena Fafrowicz ◽  
Tadeusz Marek ◽  
Ewa Beldzik ◽  
Halszka Oginska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Affective Processing ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
White Matter Volume ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Anatomical Basis

Abstract Humans can be classified as early, intermediate and late chronotypes based on the preferred sleep and wakefulness patterns. The anatomical basis of these distinctions remains largely unexplored. Using magnetic resonance imaging data from 113 healthy young adults (71 females), we aimed to replicate cortical thickness and grey matter volume chronotype differences reported earlier in the literature using a greater sample size, as well as to explore the volumetric white matter variation linked to contrasting circadian phenotypes. Instead of comparing the chronotypes, we correlated the individual chronotype scores with their morphometric brain measures. The results revealed one cluster in the left fusiform and entorhinal gyri showing increased cortical thickness with increasing preference for eveningness, potentially providing an anatomical substrate for chronotype-sensitive affective processing. No significant results were found for grey and white matter volume. We failed to replicate cortical thickness and volumetric grey matter distinctions in the brain regions reported in the literature. Furthermore, we found no association between white matter volume and chronotype. Thus, while this study confirms that circadian preference is associated with specific structural substrates, it adds to the growing concerns that reliable and replicable neuroimaging research requires datasets much larger than those commonly used.

Associations of Diet Quality with Midlife Brain Volume: Findings from the UK Biobank Cohort Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Helen Macpherson ◽  
Sarah A. McNaughton ◽  
Karen E. Lamb ◽  
Catherine M. Milte
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Brain Volume ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Uk Biobank ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Diet Score

Background: Higher quality diets may be related to lower dementia rates. Midlife is emerging as a critical life stage for a number of dementia risk factors. Objective: This study examines whether diet quality is related to brain structure during midlife, and if this differs by sex. Methods: This study used data from 19184 UK Biobank participants aged 40–65 years. Diet quality was assessed using three dietary indices including the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), Healthy Diet Score (HDS), and Recommended Food Score (RFS). MRI brain measures included total, grey, white and hippocampal volume. Linear regression examined associations between diet quality and brain volume, controlling for potential confounders. Results: Better quality diet across all indices was significantly related to larger grey matter volume: MDS β= 429.7 (95%CI: 65.2, 794.2); HDS β= 700.1 (348.0, 1052.1); and RFS β= 317.1 (106.8, 527.3). Higher diet scores were associated with greater total volume: HDS β= 879.32 (286.13, 1472.50); RFS β= 563.37 (209.10, 917.65); and white matter volume: RFS β= 246.31 (20.56, 472.05), with the exception of Mediterranean diet adherence. Healthy eating guidelines and dietary variety associations with total and grey matter volume were more prominent in men. Conclusion: Findings suggest that diet quality is associated with brain structure during midlife, potentially decades prior to the onset of dementia.

scholarly journals Cortical thickness or grey matter volume? The importance of selecting the phenotype for imaging genetics studies

NeuroImage ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 1135-1146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anderson M. Winkler ◽  
Peter Kochunov ◽  
John Blangero ◽  
Laura Almasy ◽  
Karl Zilles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Imaging Genetics ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Matter Volume

scholarly journals Structural abnormalities in gyri of the prefrontal cortex in individuals with schizophrenia and their unaffected siblings

2010 ◽  
Vol 196 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Harms ◽  
Lei Wang ◽  
Carolina Campanella ◽  
Kristina Aldridge ◽  
Amanda J. Moffitt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Familial Risk ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Genetic Contribution ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Structural Abnormalities

BackgroundThe relatives of individuals with schizophrenia exhibit deficits of overall frontal lobe volume, consistent with a genetic contribution to these deficits.AimsTo quantify the structure of gyral-defined subregions of prefrontal cortex in individuals with schizophrenia and their siblings.MethodGrey matter volume, cortical thickness, and surface area of the superior, middle and inferior frontal gyri were measured in participants with schizophrenia and their unaffected (non-psychotic) siblings (n = 26 pairs), and controls and their siblings (n = 40 pairs).ResultsGrey matter volume was reduced in the middle and inferior frontal gyri of individuals with schizophrenia, relative to controls. However, only inferior frontal gyrus volume was also reduced in the unaffected siblings of those with schizophrenia, yielding a volume intermediate between their affected siblings and controls.ConclusionsThe structure of subregions of the prefrontal cortex may be differentially influenced by genetic factors in schizophrenia, with inferior frontal gyrus volume being most related to familial risk.

scholarly journals Late chronotype is linked to greater cortical thickness in the left fusiform and entorhinal gyri

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Rafal Zareba ◽  
Magdalena Fafrowicz ◽  
Tadeusz Marek ◽  
Ewa Beldzik ◽  
Halszka Oginska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Affective Processing ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
White Matter Volume ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Anatomical Basis

Abstract Humans can be classified as early, intermediate and late chronotypes based on the preferred sleep and wakefulness patterns. The anatomical basis of these distinctions remains largely unexplored. Using magnetic resonance imaging data from 113 healthy young adults (71 females), we aimed to replicate cortical thickness and grey matter volume chronotype differences reported earlier in the literature using a greater sample size, as well as to explore the volumetric white matter variation linked to contrasting circadian phenotypes. Instead of comparing the chronotypes, we correlated the individual chronotype scores with their morphometric brain measures. The results revealed one cluster in the left fusiform and entorhinal gyri showing increased cortical thickness with increasing preference for eveningness, potentially providing an anatomical substrate for chronotype-sensitive affective processing. No significant results were found for grey and white matter volume. We failed to replicate cortical thickness and volumetric grey matter distinctions in the brain regions reported in the literature. Furthermore, we found no association between white matter volume and chronotype. Thus, while this study confirms that circadian preference is associated with specific structural substrates, it adds to the growing concerns that reliable and replicable neuroimaging research requires datasets much larger than those commonly used.

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