Disrupted Association between Empathy and Brain Structure in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Objectives To investigate the relationship between brain structure and empathy in early adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods Nineteen early adolescents with ADHD and 20 healthy controls underwent 3T MRI. All the participants were assessed for different aspects of empathy using measures including the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and Empathy Quotient. Cortical thickness and subcortical structural volume based on T1-weighted scans were analyzed using FreeSurfer. Results Cognitive empathy (t=-2.52, p=0.016) and perspective taking (t=-2.10, p=0.043) were impaired in the ADHD group compared with the control group. The cluster encompassing the left posterior insular, supramarginal, and transverse temporal cortices [cluster-wise p-value (CWP)=0.001], which are associated with emotional empathy, was significantly smaller in the ADHD group, and the volume of the left nucleus accumbens was greater than that of the control group (F=10.12, p=0.003, effect size=0.22). In the control group, the left superior temporal (CWP=0.002) and lingual cortical (CWP=0.035) thicknesses were positively associated with cognitive empathy, while the right amygdala volume was positively associated with empathic concern (Coef=14.26, t=3.92, p=0.001). However, there was no significant correlation between empathy and brain structure in the ADHD group. Conclusion The ADHD group had a smaller volume of the cortical area associated with emotional empathy than the control group, and there was no brain region showing significant correlation with empathy, unlike in the control group.

Common and distinct cortical thickness alterations in youth with autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

“…In ADHD, there were six ADHD datasets that recruited medication-naïve patients [ 44 ] or patients who discontinued medications before MR scans [ 39 , 40 , 43 , 45 ]. Three ADHD datasets [ 41 , 42 , 46 ] used medicated patients and one dataset did not clearly indicate the medication status [ 47 ]. With regard to comorbidities, six ADHD datasets recruited pure ADHD patients [ 39 , 41 , 43 – 46 ] while four ADHD datasets reported that some patients had comorbid conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder [ 40 , 45 ], epilepsy [ 42 ], and behavioral and anxiety related disorder [ 47 ].…”

“…Three ADHD datasets [ 41 , 42 , 46 ] used medicated patients and one dataset did not clearly indicate the medication status [ 47 ]. With regard to comorbidities, six ADHD datasets recruited pure ADHD patients [ 39 , 41 , 43 – 46 ] while four ADHD datasets reported that some patients had comorbid conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder [ 40 , 45 ], epilepsy [ 42 ], and behavioral and anxiety related disorder [ 47 ]. It should be noted that patients with a history of cannabis use [ 43 ] were not considered as a comorbidity in the current study.…”

Meta‐analysis reveals a reduced surface area of the amygdala in individuals with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

“… e Encompassed Baribeau et al (2019), Bitter et al (2011), Kim et al (2022), Lee et al (2021), Tajima‐Pozo et al (2018), and Wang et al (2018). …”

“…Therefore, the ES was not adjusted (Hedges's g = 0.43). In contrast, using volume-based measurement, the combined results from 10 data sets demonstrated a nonsignificant difference between participants with ADHD and their controls (Hedges' g = −0.01, p = .94, Figure 2; Baribeau et al, 2019;Bitter et al, 2011;Filipek et al, 1997;Hoogman et al, 2017;Kim et al, 2022;Lee et al, 2021;Tajima-Pozo et al, 2018;Wang et al, 2018). The mega data from Hoogman et al (2017) were divided into three data sets, namely children, adolescents, and adults.…”