This thesis focused on youths who present with conduct problems (CP), callous-unemotional traits and functional neuroimaging.

PART 1:
A narrative review of current neuroimaging literature regarding youths with CP. Firstly, this review outlined general CP related considerations regarding neuroimaging literature and common CP risk factors before summarising structural neuroimaging literature. Functional neuroimaging research was then summarised using neurocognitive domains of functioning: acute threat response, social cognition, cognitive control and reinforcement learning. Findings were discussed with reference to how risk factors and neurocognitive functioning interact to produce behavioural syndromes associated with CP. Future CP related neuroimaging research should focus on domains of functioning and the influence of risk factors on heterogeneity.

PART 2:
A functional MRI study that used facial expressions (angry/sad/happy) to investigate neural differences in emotion processing amongst boys with CP split between high and low callous-unemotional (CU) traits, compared to matched controls. Findings highlighted perturbations in limbic, frontal, temporal and medial regions for both high and low CU trait boys compared to controls. CP boys demonstrated specific atypical activation in the amygdala, insula and prefrontal cortex when processing negative facial expressions and were associated with more severe pathological parenting practices than controls. Potential explanations and clinical implications were explored.

PART 3:
A critical appraisal of my learning regarding neuroimaging and youths with CP including my perspective from clinical practice. This appraisal focused on the theoretical, diagnostic, research, clinical and narrative implications of transitioning understandings of neural function from a behavioural, damaged and functionally specialised paradigm toward a dimensional, adapted and interrelated paradigm.