“A review of 23 neuroimaging studies of adolescents and young people with conduct problems found that these individuals generally exhibit decreased activity in brain areas related to empathy and social learning. This includes the amygdala and temporal cortex regions, especially when viewing images designed to elicit negative emotions. Notably, young individuals with callous traits showed diminished activity in the fusiform gyrus, suggesting decreased attention or a less active processing of facial cues. The study was published in Translational Psychiatry.
Conduct problems refer to a persistent pattern of disruptive and antisocial behaviors, which may include aggression, lying, stealing, truancy, and violation of rules and norms. They are typically diagnosed in children and adolescents. Conduct problems often result in conflicts with authority figures, family members, and peers. They can lead to serious adverse social, academic, and legal consequences if left unaddressed.
Many young people with conduct problems receive diagnoses of conduct disorder or oppositional defiant disorder. Studies have indicated that individuals receiving these diagnoses before the age of 15 have an increased likelihood of substance use disorders or antisocial personality disorder in adulthood. Young people with conduct problems who also have callous-unemotional traits or limited prosocial emotions are more likely to show aggression, engage in bullying, and delinquency.”