Trait Aggressiveness Is Not Related to Structural Connectivity between Orbitofrontal Cortex and Amygdala

Beyer, Frederike; Münte, Thomas F.; Wiechert, Juliana; Heldmann, Marcus; Krämer, Ulrike M.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0101105

Cited by 23 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…No differences in FA values along the UF were found in the current study. In a previous study in healthy individuals, no link was found between UF microstructure and trait aggressiveness (Beyer et al 2014). Furthermore, in a study with IED patients, no differences in white matter in brain areas corresponding to the UF were found as well (Lee et al 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Regions of white matter abnormalities in the arcuate fasciculus in veterans with anger and aggression problems

et al. 2019

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Aggression after military deployment is a common occurrence in veterans. Neurobiological research has shown that aggression is associated with a dysfunction in a network connecting brain regions implicated in threat processing and emotion regulation. However, aggression may also be related to deficits in networks underlying communication and social cognition. The uncinate and arcuate fasciculi are integral to these networks, thus studying potential abnormalities in these white matter connections can further our understanding of anger and aggression problems in military veterans. Here, we use diffusion tensor imaging tractography to investigate white matter microstructural properties of the uncinate fasciculus and the arcuate fasciculus in veterans with and without anger and aggression problems. A control tract, the parahippocampal cingulum was also included in the analyses. More specifically, fractional anisotropy (FA) estimates are derived along the trajectory from all fiber pathways and compared between both groups. No between-group FA differences are observed for the uncinate fasciculus and the cingulum, however parts of the arcuate fasciculus show a significantly lower FA in the group of veterans with aggression and anger problems. Our data suggest that abnormalities in arcuate fasciculus white matter connectivity that are related to self-regulation may play an important role in the etiology of anger and aggression in military veterans.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Regions of white matter abnormalities in the arcuate fasciculus in veterans with anger and aggression problems

et al. 2019

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“…There seems to be a tendency for associations between trait measures and abnormal white matter structure to be found in clinical populations rather than in healthy controls. For example, Beyer et al (2014) did not find an association between trait anger or physical aggressiveness and FA in bilateral uncinate in healthy participants. In contrast, deficits in structural prefrontal-amygdala connectivity were identified in criminal offenders with psychopathy and adolescents and adults with conduct disorder.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

White matter structure in the uncinate fasciculus: Implications for socio-affective deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Samson

Dougherty

Lee

et al. 2016

Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging

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a b s t r a c tIndividuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have social and communication deficits and difficulties regulating emotions. The brain bases of these socio-affective deficits are not yet clear, but one candidate is structural connectivity in the left uncinate fasciculus, which connects limbic temporal and frontal areas thought to be involved in socio-affective processing. In this study, we assessed white matter structure in the left and right uncinate fasciculus in 18 high-functioning individuals with ASD and 18 group-matched typically developing (TD) controls using Diffusion Tensor Imaging. To test specificity of the associations, we also examined the association between both uncinate fasciculi and restricted and repetitive behaviors. Compared to TD individuals, individuals with ASD had significantly lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in the left and right uncinate. Group status significantly moderated the association between left uncinate and socio-affective deficits, indicating that within the ASD group, FA was associated with socio-affective deficits: Individuals with ASD with lower FA in the left uncinate had significantly more social and emotion regulation deficits. There was no association with restricted and repetitive behaviors. This study provides evidence that the left uncinate may play a critical role in socio-affective skills in individuals with ASD.

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“…An important question for future studies is to what extent altered amygdala-PFC connectivity is structural or neuromodulatory. In a recent study of a large cohort of healthy male participants (N = 93), Beyer et al 55 did not observe a significant difference in a measure of structural connectivity between the amygdala and PFC in those with high compared to low traitaggressiveness. It will be essential to extend such studies to clinical/pathological manifestations of aggression, however.…”

Section: Prefrontal Cortex and Prefrontal-amygdala Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 92%

The neurobiology of aggression and violence

2015

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Aggression and violence represent a significant public health concern and a clinical challenge for the mental healthcare provider. A great deal has been revealed regarding the neurobiology of violence and aggression, and an integration of this body of knowledge will ultimately serve to advance clinical diagnostics and therapeutic interventions. We will review here the latest findings regarding the neurobiology of aggression and violence. First, we will introduce the construct of aggression, with a focus on issues related to its heterogeneity, as well as the importance of refining the aggression phenotype in order to reduce pathophysiologic variability. Next we will examine the neuroanatomy of aggression and violence, focusing on regional volumes, functional studies, and interregional connectivity. Significant emphasis will be on the amygdala, as well as amygdala-frontal circuitry. Then we will turn our attention to the neurochemistry and molecular genetics of aggression and violence, examining the extensive findings on the serotonergic system, as well as the growing literature on the dopaminergic and vasopressinergic systems. We will also address the contribution of steroid hormones, namely, cortisol and testosterone. Finally, we will summarize these findings with a focus on reconciling inconsistencies and potential clinical implications; and, then we will suggest areas of focus for future directions in the field.

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Trait Aggressiveness Is Not Related to Structural Connectivity between Orbitofrontal Cortex and Amygdala

Cited by 23 publications

References 27 publications

Regions of white matter abnormalities in the arcuate fasciculus in veterans with anger and aggression problems

Regions of white matter abnormalities in the arcuate fasciculus in veterans with anger and aggression problems

White matter structure in the uncinate fasciculus: Implications for socio-affective deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder

The neurobiology of aggression and violence

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