Links between adolescent bullying and neural activation to viewing social exclusion

Abstract

Neuroscientists studying bullying have primarily focused on the psychopathology of diagnosable offenders or the resulting symptomatology of victimization, with less attention paid to theories suggesting bullying may be an interpersonal strategy. In an exploratory study, we recruited a sample of adolescents (N=24) engaging in high rates of delinquent behavior and collected self-report ratings of bullying behaviors. During an fMRI scan, adolescents observed instances of social exclusion and social inclusion. Adolescents' self-reported bullying was associated with greater ventral striatum, amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex, and insula activation when viewing social exclusion > social inclusion. Activation in these regions is commonly associated with reward-learning, salience monitoring, and motivational processes, suggesting that bullies show altered processing of interpersonal cues and social dynamic experiences in their environment. Our findings highlight the need for developmental neuroscientists to further explore the role of social motivation in processing socio-affective information, with a particular focus on goal-directed antisocial behavior.

Neural bases of Frustration-Aggression Theory: A multi-domain meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging studies

“…In this meta-analysis, we did not find any spatial convergence in VS and other brain regions involved in the reward system, indicating that retaliatory behaviors in healthy subjects may not be as “ pleasurable ” as previously expected. Nevertheless, we cannot rule out the possibility that the VS activation during retaliation (or when viewing others in pain) may be specific to some clinical populations such as CP/ASPD with psychopathic traits and/or high levels of sadistic traits (Decety, Chen, Harenski, & Kiehl, 2013; Decety, Michalska, Akitsuki, & Lahey, 2009; Harenski, Thornton, Harenski, Decety, & Kiehl, 2012; Perino, Moreira, & Telzer, 2019). Further research is needed to examine this possibility.…”

Neurobiological correlates of the social and emotional impact of peer victimization: A review

“…Similarly, Perino et al ( 38 ) conducted a study in which adolescents with conduct problems (aged 13–18) watched a passive version of the Cyberball where others were excluded (bullied) or included during the game. Self-rated bullying behaviors were positively correlated with differences in activation in the mPFC, insula, vStr and amygdala when watching exclusion relative to inclusion rounds.…”

Práticas do bullying: Implicações para sintomatologia depressiva e insatisfação com imagem corporal em adolescentes

“…A partir desses resultados observa-se que o fenômeno do bullying não deve ser subestimado. É conheCDIa a vulnerabilidade à qual os adolescentes estão expostos, por diversas causas, aumentando a propensão para o início do quadro de transtornos psiquiátricos, como ansiedade, depressão, suicídio entre outros, com possíveis graves repercussões em seu desenvolvimento 23,24 .…”