Childhood abuse and neglect are differentially related to perceived discrimination and structural change in empathy-related circuitry
Abstract Behavioral studies indicate that adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are associated with altered empathic responding, but the neural mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. Given the significance of empathy in contexts marred by historical conflict and systemic inequality, w...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00679-y |
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| author | Melike M. Fourie Fleur L. Warton Tess Derrick-Sleigh Hannah Codrington Mark Solms Jean Decety Dan J. Stein |
| author_facet | Melike M. Fourie Fleur L. Warton Tess Derrick-Sleigh Hannah Codrington Mark Solms Jean Decety Dan J. Stein |
| author_sort | Melike M. Fourie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Behavioral studies indicate that adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are associated with altered empathic responding, but the neural mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. Given the significance of empathy in contexts marred by historical conflict and systemic inequality, work on these mechanisms is particularly important in such contexts. The current study extends previous work by (1) examining associations of different dimensions of ACE with volumetric change in empathy-related circuitry, (2) distinguishing between trait and state empathy, and (3) including perceived discrimination as an additional psychosocial stressor. Thirty-nine healthy South African adults from the general population (M age = 40.6 years) underwent 3 T MRI. FreeSurfer v6.0 was used to extract predefined volumes subserving empathy. Results showed that childhood abuse and perceived discrimination were associated with reduced state empathic concern, whereas childhood neglect was associated with reduced trait cognitive empathy. Childhood abuse was furthermore associated with volumetric increases in frontolimbic (hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)) and neocortical (superior frontal and temporal) regions subserving affective and cognitive empathy, and uniquely mediated the relationship between ACC volume and perceived discrimination. The association of ACE with altered empathic responding may thus be underpinned by specific circuitry reflective of adversity type, with childhood abuse contributing to heightened responsivity to socioemotional cues. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-db181fbf88034e5697ebf7668febbe99 |
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| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-db181fbf88034e5697ebf7668febbe992025-08-20T02:15:12ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-00679-yChildhood abuse and neglect are differentially related to perceived discrimination and structural change in empathy-related circuitryMelike M. Fourie0Fleur L. Warton1Tess Derrick-Sleigh2Hannah Codrington3Mark Solms4Jean Decety5Dan J. Stein6Department of Surgery and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, ObservatoryBiomedical Engineering Research Centre, Department of Human Biology and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape TownDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape TownDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape TownDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape TownDepartment of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of ChicagoSAMRC Unit On Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape TownAbstract Behavioral studies indicate that adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are associated with altered empathic responding, but the neural mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. Given the significance of empathy in contexts marred by historical conflict and systemic inequality, work on these mechanisms is particularly important in such contexts. The current study extends previous work by (1) examining associations of different dimensions of ACE with volumetric change in empathy-related circuitry, (2) distinguishing between trait and state empathy, and (3) including perceived discrimination as an additional psychosocial stressor. Thirty-nine healthy South African adults from the general population (M age = 40.6 years) underwent 3 T MRI. FreeSurfer v6.0 was used to extract predefined volumes subserving empathy. Results showed that childhood abuse and perceived discrimination were associated with reduced state empathic concern, whereas childhood neglect was associated with reduced trait cognitive empathy. Childhood abuse was furthermore associated with volumetric increases in frontolimbic (hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)) and neocortical (superior frontal and temporal) regions subserving affective and cognitive empathy, and uniquely mediated the relationship between ACC volume and perceived discrimination. The association of ACE with altered empathic responding may thus be underpinned by specific circuitry reflective of adversity type, with childhood abuse contributing to heightened responsivity to socioemotional cues.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00679-yAdverse childhood experiencesPerceived discriminationEmpathyStructural MRIChildhood abuseChildhood neglect |
| spellingShingle | Melike M. Fourie Fleur L. Warton Tess Derrick-Sleigh Hannah Codrington Mark Solms Jean Decety Dan J. Stein Childhood abuse and neglect are differentially related to perceived discrimination and structural change in empathy-related circuitry Scientific Reports Adverse childhood experiences Perceived discrimination Empathy Structural MRI Childhood abuse Childhood neglect |
| title | Childhood abuse and neglect are differentially related to perceived discrimination and structural change in empathy-related circuitry |
| title_full | Childhood abuse and neglect are differentially related to perceived discrimination and structural change in empathy-related circuitry |
| title_fullStr | Childhood abuse and neglect are differentially related to perceived discrimination and structural change in empathy-related circuitry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Childhood abuse and neglect are differentially related to perceived discrimination and structural change in empathy-related circuitry |
| title_short | Childhood abuse and neglect are differentially related to perceived discrimination and structural change in empathy-related circuitry |
| title_sort | childhood abuse and neglect are differentially related to perceived discrimination and structural change in empathy related circuitry |
| topic | Adverse childhood experiences Perceived discrimination Empathy Structural MRI Childhood abuse Childhood neglect |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00679-y |
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