Journal article
White matter pathways associated with empathy in females: A DTI investigation
Brain and cognition, v 162, 105902
01 Oct 2022
PMID: 36007350
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Empathy is a component of social cognition that allows us to understand, perceive, experience, and respond to the emotional state of others. In this study, we seek to build on previous research that suggests that sex and hormone levels may impact white matter microstructure. These white matter microstructural differences may influence social cognition. We examine the fractional anisotropy (FA) of white matter pathways associated with the complex human process of empathy in healthy young adult females during the self-reported luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. We used tract-based spatial statistics to perform statistical comparisons of FA and conducted multiple linear regression analysis to examine the strength of association between white matter FA and scores on the Empathy Quotient (EQ), a self-report questionnaire in which individuals report how much they agree or disagree with 60 statements pertaining to their empathic tendencies. Results identified a significant negative relationship between EQ scores and FA within five clusters of white matter: in the left forceps minor/body of the corpus callosum, left corticospinal tract, intraparietal sulcus/primary somatosensory cortex, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus/forceps minor. These consistent findings across clusters suggest that lower self-reported empathy is related to higher FA across healthy young females in specific white matter regions during the menstrual luteal phase. Future research should seek to examine if self-reported empathy varies across the menstrual cycle, using blood samples to confirm cycle phase and hormone levels.
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Details
- Title
- White matter pathways associated with empathy in females: A DTI investigation
- Creators
- Stephanie N. Steinberg - Georgia State UniversityNeami B. Tedla - Georgia State UniversityErin Hecht - Georgia State Univ, Dept Psychol, Atlanta, GA 30302 USADiana L. Robins - Drexel University, Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology)Tricia Z. King - Georgia State Univ, Dept Psychol, Atlanta, GA 30302 USA
- Publication Details
- Brain and cognition, v 162, 105902
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- Georgia State University Center for Research on the Challenges of Acquiring Language and Literacy 40463 / John Templeton Foundation Georgia State University Initiative for Maximizing Student Development program
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000888806400001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85136464235
- Other Identifier
- 991021861285004721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Neurosciences
- Psychology, Experimental