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The corpus callosum and empathy in adults with a history of preterm birth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 May 2010

E.J. LAWRENCE ,
G.M. ALLEN ,
M. WALSHE ,
M. ALLIN ,
R. MURRAY ,
L. RIFKIN ,
P.K. MCGUIRE  and
C. NOSARTI
E.J. LAWRENCE*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, United Kingdom
G.M. ALLEN
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, United Kingdom
M. WALSHE
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, United Kingdom
M. ALLIN
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, United Kingdom
R. MURRAY
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, United Kingdom
L. RIFKIN
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, United Kingdom
P.K. MCGUIRE
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, United Kingdom
C. NOSARTI
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, United Kingdom
*
*Correspondence and reprint requests to: Emma J. Lawrence, Psychosis Studies & Neuroimaging Sciences, PO Box 68, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF UK. E-mail: emma.lawrence@kcl.ac.uk
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Abstract

Reduced posterior corpus callosum (CC) area has been consistently observed in children and adolescents born very preterm (VPT). CC structural differences are also observed in people diagnosed with empathy disorders. This study examined empathy in relation to CC size in VPT adults and controls. CC area was manually measured for 17 VPT adults and 9 controls. Participants completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 1980) and the Empathy Quotient (Baron-Cohen & Wheelwright, 2004). VPT adults had reduced posterior CC area in contrast to controls, and a positive linear trend was observed between posterior CC size and gestational age. No between-group empathy differences were observed, although self-reported personal distress in response to social situations was higher in VPT adults, and negatively associated with anterior CC area. We conclude that VPT adults have a smaller posterior CC, which is associated with gestational age, and elevated social distress, which may be mediated by anterior CC size. (JINS, 2010, 16, 716–720.)

Keywords

White matterEmotional reactivityPerspective-takingPersonal distressNeurodevelopmentalPremature
Type
Brief Communications
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 16 , Issue 4 , July 2010 , pp. 716 - 720
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2010

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