Electrophysiological correlates of CU traits show abnormal regressive maturation in adolescents with conduct problems

Callous/unemotional (CU) temperament traits may denote a more severe form of conduct disorder (CD) and have been associated with abnormal cortical thinning. The present study investigated the maturational decline in N200 amplitude, and the association between N200 amplitude and callous/unemotional traits, in adolescents with CD. Twenty adolescent males (aged 10–18 years old) with CD were age-matched to 27 clinical controls with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and 30 non-clinical, typically developing controls. Participants completed a visual continuous performance task. As expected, N200 amplitude in response to background stimuli was inversely associated with age in controls (at frontal and temporal brain regions). Similar associations were seen in clinical controls. In contrast, the CD group showed a significant positive correlation between age and the right temporal N200 amplitude. Further, CU traits were positively correlated with N200 amplitude at midline frontal and temporal electrodes, even after covarying for age. These results highlight links between CU traits and abnormal neurodevelopment as indexed by N200 amplitude. This is in line with an impairment or delay in regressive maturational changes such as cortical thinning, as suggested by neuroimaging studies, which may underlie the persistence of certain psychopathic tendencies.

► N200 amplitude inversely correlates with age in healthy adolescents.
► A right temporal N200 amplitude * age association is seen in adolescents with ADHD.
► N200 amplitude positively correlates with age in adolescents with conduct disorder.
► N200 amplitude correlates with callous/unemotional traits in conduct disorder.