Journal article
Right ventromedial prefrontal cortex: a neuroanatomical correlate of impulse control in boys
Social cognitive and affective neuroscience, Vol.4(1), pp.1-9
03/2009
DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsn035
PMCID: PMC2656876
PMID: 19015086
Abstract
Emerging data on the neural mechanisms of impulse control highlight brain regions involved in emotion and decision making, including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and amygdala. Variation in the development of these regions may influence one's propensity for impulsivity and, by extension, one's vulnerability to disorders involving low impulse control (e.g. substance abuse). Here we test the hypothesis that lower impulse control is associated with structural differences in these regions, particularly on the right side, in 61 normal healthy boys aged 7-17. We assessed parent- and teacher-reported behavioral ratings of impulse control (motor impulsivity and non-planning behavior) in relation to vmPFC, ACC and amygdala volume, measured using structural magnetic resonance imaging and FreeSurfer. A regression analysis showed that the right vmPFC was a significant predictor of impulse control ratings. Follow-up tests showed (i) a significant correlation between low impulse control and decreased right vmPFC volume, especially the medial sector of the vmPFC and (ii) significantly lower right vmPFC volume in a subgroup of 20 impulsive boys relative to 20 non-impulsive boys. These results are consistent with the notion that right vmPFC provides a neuroanatomical correlate of the normal variance in impulse control observed in boys.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Right ventromedial prefrontal cortex: a neuroanatomical correlate of impulse control in boys
- Creators
- Aaron D Boes - 1Department of Psychiatry, 2Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 3Brain and Creativity Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 4Division of Behavioral Neurology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, and 5Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USAAntoine Bechara - 1Department of Psychiatry, 2Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 3Brain and Creativity Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 4Division of Behavioral Neurology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, and 5Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USADaniel Tranel - 1Department of Psychiatry, 2Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 3Brain and Creativity Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 4Division of Behavioral Neurology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, and 5Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USASteve W Anderson - 1Department of Psychiatry, 2Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 3Brain and Creativity Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 4Division of Behavioral Neurology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, and 5Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USALynn Richman - 1Department of Psychiatry, 2Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 3Brain and Creativity Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 4Division of Behavioral Neurology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, and 5Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USAPeg Nopoulos - 1Department of Psychiatry, 2Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 3Brain and Creativity Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 4Division of Behavioral Neurology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, and 5Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Social cognitive and affective neuroscience, Vol.4(1), pp.1-9
- DOI
- 10.1093/scan/nsn035
- PMID
- 19015086
- PMCID
- PMC2656876
- NLM abbreviation
- Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci
- ISSN
- 1749-5016
- eISSN
- 1749-5024
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/2009
- Academic Unit
- Neurology; Psychiatry; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Neurology (Pediatrics)
- Record Identifier
- 9984002470202771
Metrics
27 Record Views