title: Brain volume loss contributes to arousal and empathy dysregulation following severe traumatic brain injury.
abstract: Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) often leads to deficits in physiological arousal and empathy, which are thought to be linked. This study examined whether injury-related brain volume loss in key limbic system structures is associated with these deficits. Twenty-four adults with TBI and 24 matched Controls underwent MRI scans to establish grey matter volumes in the amygdala, thalamus, and hippocampus. EEG and skin conductance levels were recorded to index basal physiological arousal. Self-report emotional empathy levels were also assessed. The TBI group had reduced brain volumes, topographic alpha differences, and lower emotional empathy compared to Controls. Regional brain volumes were differentially correlated to arousal and self-report empathy. Importantly, lower volume in pertinent brain structures correlated with lower empathy, for participants with and without TBI. Overall we provide new insights into empathic processes after TBI and their relationship to brain volume loss.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Jacqueline A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rushby
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Skye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Alana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Emma J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kornfeld
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Frances M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: De Blasio
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parks
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Piguet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004645:Empathy / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008032:Limbic System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013788:Thalamus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Brain volume loss; Empathy; Limbic system; Physiological arousal; Severe traumatic brain injury