Structural Brain Deficits in Antisocial Children: Early Versus Late Neurodevelopmental Processes.

• In Event: Neurocognitive and Neurobiological Mechanisms Underlying Antisocial Behaviors Across Development: Evidence From Three Countries

Abstract

Reduced grey matter volume is associated with antisocial behavior, but it is unclear whether it is driven by differences in cortical area or difference in cortical thickness, processes which are uncorrelated. This issue is investigated in 280 male and female 11-year-olds from Philadelphia. Complete data were available on 280. Cluster analysis of antisocial behavior measures identified an antisocial group (N=115) and a control group (N=165). MRI brain volume, thickness, and area measures were classified into frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital brain areas. Antisocial children had reduced grey matter volumes (p = .037). They had reduced cortical area (p = .004) but not reduced cortical thickness (p = .82). Area reductions were found in all four lobes. Within each lobe, strongest effects were obtained for superior frontal (p = .038), mid-temporal (p = .012), superior parietal (p = .013) and lateral occipital cortical areas (p = .0005). Surface area is influenced by genetic influences acting prenatally whereas thickness is influenced by postnatal influences. As such, reduced surface area in the absence of thickness differences suggests that underlying neurobiological risk for antisocial behavior may more reflect early neurodevelopmental processes affecting cortical expansion rather than the later maturational mechanisms which influence thickness.

Author

• Adrian Raine, University of Pennsylvania