Sex dimorphic cortical brain volumes associated with antisocial behavior in young adults

TL;DR

The study finds brain volume differences in males and females linked to antisocial behavior in young adults.

Contribution

It provides the first neuroanatomical evidence from a large non-clinical sample on sex differences in antisocial behavior.

Findings

Gray matter volume in three brain regions correlates with antisocial behavior differently in males and females.

A common neural substrate for antisocial behavior was found in the anterior temporal lobe to the insula in both sexes.

The study suggests sex differences in social cue processing may influence brain structure related to antisocial behavior.

Abstract

Although sex differences in antisocial behavior are well-documented, the extent to which neuroanatomical differences are related to sex differences in antisocial behavior is unclear. The inconsistent results from different clinical populations exhibiting antisocial behaviors are mainly due to the heterogeneity in etiologies, comorbidity inequality, and small sample size, especially in females.

The study aimed to find sexual dimorphic brain regions associated with individual differences in antisocial behavior while avoiding the issues of heterogeneity and sample size.

We collected structural neuroimaging data from 281 college students (131 males, 150 females) and analyzed the data using voxel-based morphometry.

The gray matter volume in three brain regions correlates with self-reported antisocial behavior in males and females differently: the posterior superior temporal sulcus, middle temporal gyrus, and precuneus. The findings have controlled for the total cortical gray matter volume, age, IQ, and socioeconomic status. Additionally, we found a common neural substrate of antisocial behavior in both males and females, extending from the anterior temporal lobe to the insula.

This is the first neuroanatomical evidence from a large non-clinical sample of young adults. The study suggests that differences in males and females in reading social cues, understanding intentions and emotions, and responding to conflicts may contribute to the modulation of brain morphometry concerning antisocial behavior.

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