Genetics of aggression and brain white matter structure
Antisocial and aggressive behaviour is often observed in disruptive behavior disorders (ODD and CD) but also in ADHD. Antisocial and aggressive behavior involve a genetic component. The genetic predisposition for these behaviors is determined by a combination of many genes with small effects. For each individual, a risk score can be determined by summing the individual risks in these genes. This is called a polygenic risk score.
The amygdala is one of the most important brain structures related to antisocial and aggressive behavior. The amygdala is implicated in emotions and associated behavioral responses. Up to now, it remains unclear if there is shared genetic risk for antisocial and aggressive behavior and amygdala alterations. In this study, we therefore investigate if alterations in size and shape of the amygdala are related to polygenic risk scores for antisocial and aggressive behaviors. This way, we hope to learn more about the development of antisocial and aggressive behavior.
The research study
Using data from NeuroIMAGE, research is being conducted to further investigate the genetics, environmental risk factors (also in interplay with genetics) and the function and structure of the brain in ADHD and related behavioral disorders.
A range of current methods and technologies are being used for the research related to NeuroIMAGE.
These include genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and functional and structural MR imaging (MRI).
We hope to be able to present the first results in mid-2021.
Collaboration
We conducted this research in collaboration with the University of Groningen (RUG) and the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior (Radboud University Nijmegen).