Psychopathic-traits and prosociality in a community sample of children: biological and emotional correlates

Research project description

PhD will investigate the biological/emotional correlates of potential psychopathic traits during school-age years.

Children displaying early-onset conduct problems face the risk of enduring long-term physical/mental/social challenges, particularly when these problems coincide with callous-unemotional traits (limited prosocial emotions). While callous-unemotional traits define the affective aspects of psychopathy in adults, other psychopathic traits manifest early in development.

The primary aim of this proposal is to characterize profiles and identify the psychological/biological correlates of the multidimensional psychopathy construct in children, including callous-unemotional traits, grandiosity, and impulsive need for stimulation. The study will be conducted in our ABCD community cohort. At age 8-9, a subsample selected based on sex and psychopathic traits (n=200) will undergo assessment for resting autonomic nervous system activity, cognitive/affective empathy, emotion recognition, attention to the eyes, changes in pupil responses to faces, and other factors related to oxytocin and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning.

Children at high risk, scoring high in all three dimensions, will be identified from a sex-dependent perspective. Advanced machine learning techniques will be employed to characterize the heterogeneity of the different profiles identified. This project carries significant preventive implications, offering personalized approaches for individuals within these profiles.

The TOUCH predoc will receive training in psychometrics, eye-tracking, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, biochemical and advanced data analyses. Additional opportunities may arise for extending training through participation in other group projects. The candidate’s responsibilities will encompass conducting and analyzing data, drafting research papers, presenting results, mentoring undergraduates if needed, and active participation in group meetings.

Academic background / Skills

Candidates must hold a degree that allows admission to the official doctoral programme at UAB.

Additional requirements for a stronger application are:

Essential Criteria:

• MSc or equivalent in Experimental/Clinical Psychology, Neurosciences or related fields
• Since the research involves working with children/caregivers, the candidate must be proficient in Spanish from the outset of the program
• Proficiency in English (B2 level)
• Interest in learning computational methods
• Strong communication skills to effectively disseminate research results to diverse audiences
• Other skills: Ability to work in a team, critical thinking, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience in working with caregivers and children
• Training/experience in conducting and analyzing Experimental and/or Clinical Psychology studies
• Theoretical background in Psychobiology, Statistics and Computer Science
• Catalan oral understanding 

Research group/s description

Neurobiology of stress and vulnerability to Psychopathology Research Group:

Dr Fuentes and Nadal belong to the Neurobiology of stress and vulnerability to Psychopathology Research Group and are part of the Human Lab UAB. The group has two co-PIs, Dr Nadal and Dr Molinuevo, involving multidisciplinary researchers at the Dept of Psychobiology/Methodology and the Dept of Psychiatry/Legal Medicine. The group includes 2 Full Prof, 2 Tenure Prof, 1 Assistant Prof and 4 grad students. In this proposal the team collaborates with the Dept of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology. Our main strategic lines are the study of: 1) Conduct disorders and difficult temperamental traits in children/adolescents, 2) Biomarkers of vulnerability to developing these problems, including those related to stress response mechanisms, and 3) Adaptation/standardization of instruments for the diagnosis and psychological assessment of externalizing disorders.

Dynamics in Neural Networks Research Group from the Centre Recerca Matemàtica:

Dr Hyafil belongs to the Dynamics in neuronal networks Research Group and the Computational Neuroscience Group at the CRM which includes 3 PIs, 4 postdocs and 5 grad students. The group focuses on unveiling the computational mechanisms that underlie perception, memory and decision-making. Centre de Recerca Matemàtica, that is a CERCA center (Generalitat de Catalunya) with the Maria de Maeztu distinction.