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. 2021 Oct 1;32(4):129-136.
doi: 10.5765/jkacap.210009.

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

Jeonghwan Lee  1   2 , Jung-Woo Son  1   2 , Siekyeong Kim  1   2 , Ji-Eun Kim  3 , Seungwon Chung  1   2 , Hei-Rhee Ghim  4 , Sang-Ick Lee  1   2 , Chul-Jin Shin  1   2 , Gawon Ju  1   2
Affiliations

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

Jeonghwan Lee et al. Soa Chongsonyon Chongsin Uihak. .

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.

Keywords: Adolescent; Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; Brain cortical thickness; Empathy; Neuroimaging.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest Jung-Woo Son, a contributing editor of the Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, was not involved in the editorial evaluation or decision to publish this article. All remaining authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Group comparisons of cortical volume. Montreal Neurological Institute coordinate: x=-34.8, y=-28.6, z=7.5; cluster-wise p-value=0.001; annotation=posterior insula, supramarginal, and transverse temporal cortex (Brodmann Area 40, 41, 42) of the left hemisphere.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Association between cortical thickness and cognitive empathy in the control group (Empathy Quotient). A: Cluster 1: MNI coordinate: x=-62.8, y=-43.8, z=12.0; CWP=0.002; annotation=left superior temporal cortex (Brodmann Area 22) of the left hemisphere (lateral view). B: Cluster 2: MNI coordinate: x=-18.8, y=-50.7, z=-8.2; CWP=0.035; annotation=left lingual cortex (Brodmann Area 19) in the left hemisphere (medial view). MNI, Montreal Neurological Institute; CWP, cluster-wise p-value.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Association between amygdala volume and empathy in the control group. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted with age and sex set as covariates.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Association between hippocampal volume and inattentiveness in the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder group. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted with age and sex set as covariates.
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