Structural brain correlates of adolescent resilience

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • University of Vermont
  • University College Dublin
  • King's College London (KCL)
  • University of Montreal
  • Heidelberg University 
  • Trinity College Dublin
  • University of Hamburg
  • INSERM - Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale
  • Assistance publique – Hôpitaux de Paris
  • Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
  • University of Nottingham
  • Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt
  • French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)
  • University of Toronto
  • McGill University Health Centre
  • University of Cambridge
  • Medical Research Council (MRC)

Abstract

Background: Despite calls for integration of neurobiological methods into research on youth resilience (high competence despite high adversity), we know little about structural brain correlates of resilient functioning. The aim of the current study was to test for brain regions uniquely associated with positive functioning in the context of adversity, using detailed phenotypic classification. Methods: 1,870 European adolescents (Mage = 14.56 years, SDage = 0.44 years, 51.5% female) underwent MRI scanning and completed behavioral and psychological measures of stressful life events, academic competence, social competence, rule-abiding conduct, personality, and alcohol use. Results: The interaction of competence and adversity identified two regions centered on the right middle and superior frontal gyri; grey matter volumes in these regions were larger in adolescents experiencing adversity who showed positive adaptation. Differences in these regions among competence/adversity subgroups were maintained after controlling for several covariates and were robust to alternative operationalization decisions for key constructs. Conclusions: We demonstrate structural brain correlates of adolescent resilience, and suggest that right prefrontal structures are implicated in adaptive functioning for youth who have experienced adversity.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1287-1296
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines
Volume57
Issue number11
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2016
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 27079174
ORCID /0000-0001-5398-5569/work/161890799

Keywords

Keywords

  • adolescence, adversity, competence, IMAGEN study, Imaging, resilience