Ruth Pauli, Inti Brazil, Gregor Kohls, Tobias U Hauser, Lisa Gistelinck, Dimitris Dikeos, Roberta Dochnal, Graeme Fairchild, Aranzazu Fernández-Rivas, Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann, Amaia Hervas, Kerstin Konrad, Arne Popma, Christina Stadler, Christine M Freitag, Stephane A De Brito, Patricia L Lockwood
{"title":"Conduct disorder is associated with heightened action initiation and reduced learning from punishment but not reward.","authors":"Ruth Pauli, Inti Brazil, Gregor Kohls, Tobias U Hauser, Lisa Gistelinck, Dimitris Dikeos, Roberta Dochnal, Graeme Fairchild, Aranzazu Fernández-Rivas, Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann, Amaia Hervas, Kerstin Konrad, Arne Popma, Christina Stadler, Christine M Freitag, Stephane A De Brito, Patricia L Lockwood","doi":"10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.03.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.03.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Theoretical and empirical accounts of conduct disorder (CD) suggest problems with reinforcement learning as well as heightened impulsivity. These two facets can manifest in similar behaviour, such as risk-taking. Computational models that can dissociate learning from impulsively initiating actions are essential for understanding the cognitive mechanisms underlying CD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A large, international sample of youths from 11 European countries (N = 1418, typically developing (TD) n = 742, CD n = 676) completed a learning task. We used computational modelling to disentangle reward and punishment learning from action initiation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Punishment learning rates were significantly reduced in youths with CD compared to their TD peers, suggesting that they did not update their actions based on punishment outcomes as strongly. Intriguingly, those with CD also had a greater tendency to initiate actions regardless of outcomes, although their ability to learn from reward was comparable to their TD peers. We additionally observed that variability in action initiation correlated with self-reported impulsivity in youths with CD.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings provide empirical support for a reduced ability to learn from punishment in CD, while reward learning is typical. Our results also suggest that behaviours appearing superficially to reflect reward learning differences could reflect heightened impulsive action initiation instead. Such asymmetric learning from reward and punishment, with increased action initiation, could have important implications for tailoring learning-based interventions to help those with CD.</p>","PeriodicalId":8918,"journal":{"name":"Biological Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143639536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Charlotte A Dennison, Joanna Martin, Amy Shakeshaft, Lucy Riglin, Victoria Powell, George Kirov, Michael J Owen, Michael C O'Donovan, Anita Thapar
{"title":"Early manifestations of neurodevelopmental copy number variants in children: A population-based investigation.","authors":"Charlotte A Dennison, Joanna Martin, Amy Shakeshaft, Lucy Riglin, Victoria Powell, George Kirov, Michael J Owen, Michael C O'Donovan, Anita Thapar","doi":"10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.03.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.03.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>There is clinical interest in recognising copy number variants (CNVs) in children as many have immediate and long-term health implications. Neurodevelopmental CNVs are associated with intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conditions typically diagnosed by medical practitioners. However, neurodevelopmental CNVs may have additional, early developmental impacts that have yet to be examined in unselected populations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Carriers of known ND CNVs were identified in two UK birth cohorts: the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) (carriers=144, controls=6217) and the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) (carriers=151, controls=6559). In ALSPAC, we assessed associations between CNV carrier status and: birth complications, preschool development, cognitive ability, neurodevelopmental conditions (ASD, ADHD, reading, language, and motor difficulties), psychiatric, social and educational outcomes. Corresponding phenotypes were identified in MCS and meta-analysed, where available.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In ALSPAC, neurodevelopmental CNVs were associated with low cognitive ability, ADHD and ASD. Neurodevelopmental CNV carriers showed greater likelihood of preterm birth, fine and gross motor delay, difficulties in motor coordination, language, and reading, and special educational needs (SEND). Meta-analysis with available measures in MCS identified elevated likelihood of ASD, ADHD, low birthweight, reading difficulties, SEND, and peer problems.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Neurodevelopmental CNVs are associated with a broad range of developmental impacts. While clinicians who see children with intellectual disability, ASD, or ADHD may be aware of the impacts of CNVs and consider genetic testing, our investigation suggests that this training and awareness may need to extend to other professional groups (e.g. speech and language therapists).</p>","PeriodicalId":8918,"journal":{"name":"Biological Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143639540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prosocial Helping Behavior: Conceptual Issues and Neural Mechanisms.","authors":"Nicole Rigney, Weizhe Hong","doi":"10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.03.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.03.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Prosocial helping behavior, characterized by voluntary actions taken to benefit others, plays a vital role in promoting cooperation and maintaining social bonds across human and animal social groups. In this review, we examine key conceptual issues surrounding prosocial behavior, focusing specifically on targeted helping and comforting actions. We outline the behavioral paradigms used to study these two types of prosocial behaviors and summarize recent insights into their underlying neural mechanisms. Drawing on findings across species, with an emphasis on rodent models, we discuss how these behaviors are regulated by molecularly and anatomically defined neural systems and how distinct neuronal populations and circuits may differentially regulate targeted helping and comforting behaviors. Lastly, we discuss the clinical relevance of this research by addressing the implications of prosocial deficits in psychiatric disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":8918,"journal":{"name":"Biological Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143639527","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Thara M. Nagarajan , Bernice N. Yau , David A. Ross
{"title":"From Implicit Bias to Reconciliation: A Neuroscience-Informed Perspective on Racism","authors":"Thara M. Nagarajan , Bernice N. Yau , David A. Ross","doi":"10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.01.023","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.01.023","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8918,"journal":{"name":"Biological Psychiatry","volume":"97 7","pages":"Pages 666-668"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Safe Step in the Right Direction: Focused Ultrasound in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Depression","authors":"Patricio Riva-Posse , Martijn Figee","doi":"10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.01.024","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.01.024","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8918,"journal":{"name":"Biological Psychiatry","volume":"97 7","pages":"Pages 664-665"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"New Insights Into the Role That Familial Genetic Risk Factors and Severe Infections Play in Increasing the Risk of an Individual to Develop Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder","authors":"James F. Leckman","doi":"10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.12.016","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.12.016","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8918,"journal":{"name":"Biological Psychiatry","volume":"97 7","pages":"Page 660"},"PeriodicalIF":9.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601488","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}