Neurostructural correlates of harm action/outcome aversion: The role of empathy
Harm aversion is essential for normal human functioning; however, the neuroanatomical mechanisms underlying harm aversion remain unclear. To explore this issue, we examined the brain structures associated with the two distinct dimensions of harm aversion (harm action/outcome aversion) and the potent...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| author | Shu Su Ling-Xiang Xia |
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| description | Harm aversion is essential for normal human functioning; however, the neuroanatomical mechanisms underlying harm aversion remain unclear. To explore this issue, we examined the brain structures associated with the two distinct dimensions of harm aversion (harm action/outcome aversion) and the potential mediating role of the four aspects of empathy: fantasy, perspective-taking, empathic concern, and personal distress. A sample of 214 healthy young adults underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging. Voxel-based morphometry was used to assess regional gray matter volume (rGMV) and regional gray matter density (rGMD). Whole-brain multiple regression analysis revealed significant correlations between harm action aversion and rGMV/rGMD in various brain regions, including the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and precuneus for both rGMV and rGMD, the cerebellum for rGMV, and the superior frontal gyrus for rGMD. The rGMV/rGMD in the IFG and the rGMD in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) were correlated with harm outcome aversion. Utilizing 10-fold balanced cross-validation analysis, we confirmed the robustness of these significant associations between rGMV/rGMD in these brain regions and harm action/outcome aversion. Importantly, mediation analysis revealed that empathic concern mediated the relationship between rGMV/rGMD in the precuneus and harm action aversion. Additionally, empathic concern, personal distress, and total empathy mediated the relationship between rGMD in the S1 and harm outcome aversion. These findings enhance our understanding of the neural mechanism of harm aversion by integrating insights from the brain structure, harm aversion, and the personality hierarchy models while also extending the frontal asymmetry model of Emotion |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-721ae4649a7745bbbd859b0d6345f8c2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1095-9572 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| spelling | doaj-art-721ae4649a7745bbbd859b0d6345f8c22025-01-11T06:38:32ZengElsevierNeuroImage1095-95722025-01-01305120972Neurostructural correlates of harm action/outcome aversion: The role of empathyShu Su0Ling-Xiang Xia1Research Center of Psychology and Social Development, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, ChinaResearch Center of Psychology and Social Development, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Corresponding author at : Faculty of Psychology, Research Center of Psychology and Social Development, Southwest University, Address: No 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, Chongqing 400715, China.Harm aversion is essential for normal human functioning; however, the neuroanatomical mechanisms underlying harm aversion remain unclear. To explore this issue, we examined the brain structures associated with the two distinct dimensions of harm aversion (harm action/outcome aversion) and the potential mediating role of the four aspects of empathy: fantasy, perspective-taking, empathic concern, and personal distress. A sample of 214 healthy young adults underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging. Voxel-based morphometry was used to assess regional gray matter volume (rGMV) and regional gray matter density (rGMD). Whole-brain multiple regression analysis revealed significant correlations between harm action aversion and rGMV/rGMD in various brain regions, including the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and precuneus for both rGMV and rGMD, the cerebellum for rGMV, and the superior frontal gyrus for rGMD. The rGMV/rGMD in the IFG and the rGMD in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) were correlated with harm outcome aversion. Utilizing 10-fold balanced cross-validation analysis, we confirmed the robustness of these significant associations between rGMV/rGMD in these brain regions and harm action/outcome aversion. Importantly, mediation analysis revealed that empathic concern mediated the relationship between rGMV/rGMD in the precuneus and harm action aversion. Additionally, empathic concern, personal distress, and total empathy mediated the relationship between rGMD in the S1 and harm outcome aversion. These findings enhance our understanding of the neural mechanism of harm aversion by integrating insights from the brain structure, harm aversion, and the personality hierarchy models while also extending the frontal asymmetry model of Emotionhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811924004695Harm action aversionHarm outcome aversionEmpathyRegional gray matter volumeRegional gray matter density |
| spellingShingle | Shu Su Ling-Xiang Xia Neurostructural correlates of harm action/outcome aversion: The role of empathy NeuroImage Harm action aversion Harm outcome aversion Empathy Regional gray matter volume Regional gray matter density |
| title | Neurostructural correlates of harm action/outcome aversion: The role of empathy |
| title_full | Neurostructural correlates of harm action/outcome aversion: The role of empathy |
| title_fullStr | Neurostructural correlates of harm action/outcome aversion: The role of empathy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neurostructural correlates of harm action/outcome aversion: The role of empathy |
| title_short | Neurostructural correlates of harm action/outcome aversion: The role of empathy |
| title_sort | neurostructural correlates of harm action outcome aversion the role of empathy |
| topic | Harm action aversion Harm outcome aversion Empathy Regional gray matter volume Regional gray matter density |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811924004695 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shusu neurostructuralcorrelatesofharmactionoutcomeaversiontheroleofempathy AT lingxiangxia neurostructuralcorrelatesofharmactionoutcomeaversiontheroleofempathy |