Structural brain correlates of adolescent resilience

Burt, Keith B.; Whelan, Robert; Conrod, Patricia J.; Banaschewski, Tobias; Barker, Gareth J.; Bokde, Arun L.W.; Bromberg, Uli; B�chel, Christian; Fauth-B�hler, Mira; Flor, Herta; Galinowski, Andr�; Gallinat, Juergen; Gowland, Penny; Heinz, Andreas; Ittermann, Bernd; Mann, Karl; Nees, Frauke; Papadopoulos-Orfanos, Dimitri; Paus, Tomas; Pausova, Zdenka; Poustka, Luise; Rietschel, Marcella; Robbins, Trevor W.; Smolka, Michael N.; Str�hle, Andreas; Schumann, Gunter; Garavan, Hugh

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.

Citation

Burt, K. B., Whelan, R., Conrod, P. J., Banaschewski, T., Barker, G. J., Bokde, A. L., …Garavan, H. (2016). Structural brain correlates of adolescent resilience. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 57(11), 1287-1296. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12552

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 26, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Apr 15, 2016
• Publication Date: Nov 30, 2016
• Deposit Date: May 9, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: May 9, 2017
• Journal: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
• Print ISSN: 0021-9630
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-7610
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 57
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 1287-1296
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12552
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/826115
• Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcpp.12552/abstract
• Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Burt, K. B., Whelan, R., Conrod, P. J., Banaschewski, T., Barker, G. J., Bokde, A. L.W., Bromberg, U., Büchel, C., Fauth-Bühler, M., Flor, H., Galinowski, A., Gallinat, J., Gowland, P., Heinz, A., Ittermann, B., Mann, K., Nees, F., Papadopoulos-Orfanos, D., Paus, T., Pausova, Z., Poustka, L., Rietschel, M., Robbins, T. W., Smolka, M. N., Ströhle, A., Schumann, G., Garavan, H. and the IMAGEN Consortium (2016), Structural brain correlates of adolescent resilience. J Child Psychol Psychiatr, 57: 1287–1296, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12552]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.