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Neural responses to fearful eyes in children with conduct problems and varying levels of callous–unemotional traits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 March 2013

C. L. Sebastian ,
E. J. McCrory ,
M. R. Dadds ,
C. A. M. Cecil ,
P. L. Lockwood ,
Z. H. Hyde ,
S. A. De Brito  and
E. Viding
C. L. Sebastian*
Affiliation:
Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, UK Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK
E. J. McCrory
Affiliation:
Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, UK
M. R. Dadds
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
C. A. M. Cecil
Affiliation:
Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, UK
P. L. Lockwood
Affiliation:
Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, UK
Z. H. Hyde
Affiliation:
Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, UK
S. A. De Brito
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
E. Viding*
Affiliation:
Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, UK
*
*Author for correspondence: E. Viding, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AP, UK. (Email: e.viding@ucl.ac.uk) [E. Viding] (Email: catherine.sebastian@rhul.ac.uk) [C. L. Sebastian]
*Author for correspondence: E. Viding, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AP, UK. (Email: e.viding@ucl.ac.uk) [E. Viding] (Email: catherine.sebastian@rhul.ac.uk) [C. L. Sebastian]
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Abstract

Background

Children with conduct problems (CP) are a heterogeneous group. Those with high levels of callous–unemotional traits (CP/HCU) appear emotionally under-reactive at behavioural and neural levels whereas those with low levels of CU traits (CP/LCU) appear emotionally over-reactive, compared with typically developing (TD) controls. Investigating the degree to which these patterns of emotional reactivity are malleable may have important translational implications. Instructing participants with CP/HCU to focus on the eyes of fearful faces (i.e. the most salient feature) can ameliorate their fear-recognition deficits, but it is unknown whether this is mediated by amygdala response. It is also unknown whether focusing on fearful eyes is associated with increased amygdala reactivity in CP/LCU.

Method

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure neural responses to fearful and calm faces in children with CP/HCU, CP/LCU and TD controls (n = 17 per group). On half of trials participants looked for a blue dot anywhere within target faces; on the other half, participants were directed to focus on the eye region.

Results

Reaction time (RT) data showed that CP/LCU were selectively slowed in the fear/eyes condition. For the same condition, CP/LCU also showed increased amygdala and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC)/orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) responses compared with TD controls. RT and amygdala response to fear/eyes were correlated in CP/LCU only. No effects of focusing on the eye region were observed in CP/HCU.

Conclusions

These data extend the evidence base suggesting that CU traits index meaningful heterogeneity in conduct problems. Focusing on regulating reactive emotional responses may be a fruitful strategy for children with CP/LCU.

Keywords

Callous-unemotional traitsconduct problemsfearfMRIreactive aggression
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 44 , Issue 1 , January 2014 , pp. 99 - 109
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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