High resolution ex vivo imaging of mice with high and low empathy-like behavior revealed widespread volumetric and fractional anisotropy (FA) changes. Low empathy mice had decreased volumes of the dorsal and ventral hippocampi, periaqueductal grey and the cerebellar cortex, and increased volumes of the olfactory bulb and the hypothalamus compared to high empathy mice. FA was decreased in the low empathy group, specifically in the hippocampus and in the periaqueductal grey. Functional significance can be inferred as these affected brain circuits mediate olfactory cues-based communication of pain, predatory odor fear responses and autonomic stress responses.
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