Thicker temporal cortex associates with a developmental trajectory for psychopathic traits in adolescents

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Psychopathy is a disorder affecting social interaction and morality.
• Childhood studies show brain structural abnormalities linked to psychopathy.
• The link between brain morphology variations and the developmental trajectory of psychopathy is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between brain cortical thickness and psychopathic traits in adolescents.
• To examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between cortical thickness and psychopathy development from ages 9 to 18.

Main Methods:

• Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) data from 108 adolescents (aged 14) were analyzed.
• Cortical thickness was measured and correlated with psychopathic traits.
• Longitudinal changes in psychopathic traits were assessed in relation to cortical thickness variations.

Main Results:

• Cortical thickness abnormalities correlated with psychopathic traits both cross-sectionally and longitudinally.
• At age 14, thinner cortex in the middle frontal gyrus (females) and thicker cortex in temporal/parahippocampal gyri (males) were associated with higher psychopathy scores.
• Longitudinally, increased psychopathy was linked to thicker cortex in temporal, parahippocampal, and posterior cingulate gyri (males).

Conclusions:

• Abnormal cortical thickness may indicate delayed brain maturation in adolescents with psychopathic tendencies.
• These findings suggest cortical thickness variations could be a biomarker for psychopathic propensity.
• The results highlight potential disturbances in frontal and temporal functioning, contributing to impulsivity and emotional dysregulation.