Reduced frontal activity during response inhibition in individuals with psychopathic traits: an sLORETA study

This study investigated the response inhibition in individuals with psychopathic traits. We examined the cortical source localization of the NoGo stimuli in a Go/NoGo task by employing a standardized low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) using EEG. Fifteen psychopathic trait subjects and 15 control subjects performed the Go/NoGo task. The statistical analysis of P3 elicited by the NoGo stimuli indicated that the psychopathic trait group showed significantly reduced NoGo-P3 amplitudes than the control group at the frontocental area. In the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the psychopathic trait group showed significantly higher perseverative responses than the control group. Compared to the control group, cortical sources reduction elicited by NoGo-P3 in the psychopathic trait group was found at the left superior frontal gyrus, bilateral anterior cingulate, right precentral gyrus, and the right inferior parietal lobule. These results suggest that individuals with psychopathic traits have difficulties in inhibiting a response with reduced frontal function.