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Heritable variations in gray matter concentration as a potential endophenotype for psychopathic traits
Fruhling V Rijsdijk, Fruhling V Rijsdijsk1, Essi Viding
1Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, UK.
Archives of General Psychiatry
|April 7, 2010
Summary
Genetic vulnerability to psychopathic traits may be linked to brain structure. Gray matter concentration in specific brain regions, like the posterior cingulate, shows heritability, suggesting they are potential endophenotypes for psychopathy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Genetics
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Genetic vulnerability to psychopathic traits is hypothesized to manifest at the neural level.
- Previous research indicated increased gray matter concentration in specific brain areas in boys exhibiting psychopathic traits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if observed gray matter concentration differences represent endophenotypes for psychopathic traits.
- To assess the heritability of these neural differences.
- To examine the etiological factors underlying the co-occurrence of psychopathic traits and increased gray matter concentration.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a community-based twin sample comprising 123 male twins (56 monozygotic, 67 dizygotic).
- Conducted structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
- Employed voxel-based morphometry and biometrical genetic twin modeling to analyze gray matter concentration.
Main Results:
- Left posterior cingulate and right dorsal anterior cingulate gray matter concentrations emerged as significant endophenotype markers.
- Heritability estimates for these regions were 46% and 37%, respectively.
- Common genetic factors were found to explain the relationship between these brain regions and psychopathic traits; no significant heritabilities were observed for the right orbitofrontal cortex and insula.
Conclusions:
- Structural variations in gray matter concentration serve as endophenotypes, reflecting genetic vulnerability for psychopathic traits.
- Gray matter concentration in the left posterior cingulate and right dorsal anterior cingulate are identified as candidate endophenotypes.
- These brain regions are critically involved in empathy, moral processing, and introspection.
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