The causal relationship between antisocial behavior and resting-state networks: a two- sample Mendelian randomization study

Abstract Background A growing body of evidence shows that antisocial behavior is associated with resting-state network alterations. However, the causality of this association is not clear. Therefore, we used Mendelian randomization (MR) to examine the causal relationship between antisocial behavior (ASB) and resting-state networks (RSNs). Methods Genome-wide association studies summary data of ASB in 85359 participants from the Complex Trait Genetics lab were used to identify their general risk preference. Data from 27744 subjects from the Complex Trait Genetics lab were used to identify the functional connectivity within resting-state networks (RSN-FC). Data from 27397 subjects from the Complex Trait Genetics lab were used to identify the structural connectivity within resting-state networks (RSN-SC). The weighted median, the inverse variance weighted method, and the Mendelian randomization-Egger methods were used for the MR analysis to estimate the causal effect and examine the directional pleiotropy. Results GWAS summary data were respectively from three combined samples, which contained 85359, 27744 and 27397 adult participants of European ancestry. MR evidence suggested no significant causal relationship between ASB and RSNs. Conclusion Numerous studies have found a close correlation between ASB and RSNs. However, the present MR analysis did not find a direct causal relationship between ASB and RSNs, suggesting that there might be some mediating influencing factors or complex indirect pathways or circuits between ASB and RSNs.