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Impulsive-antisocial psychopathic traits linked to increased volume and functional connectivity within prefrontal
Cole Korponay1,2, Maia Pujara1,2, Philip Deming1
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53719, USA.
Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
|April 13, 2017
Summary
This study found larger prefrontal cortex volumes and increased functional connectivity in male inmates with psychopathy, particularly linked to impulsive and antisocial traits. These brain differences were specific to psychopathy severity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Forensic Psychology
Background:
- Psychopathy is a personality disorder marked by a lack of empathy and antisocial behavior.
- Previous research suggests prefrontal cortex (PFC) abnormalities in psychopathy, but findings are inconsistent.
- A clear link between specific PFC regions and psychopathic traits remains elusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between prefrontal cortex volume, functional connectivity, and psychopathy severity.
- To identify specific subregions of the PFC associated with psychopathic traits.
- To explore the neural underpinnings of impulsive and antisocial behaviors in psychopathy.
Main Methods:
- Multimodal neuroimaging study of 124 adult male prison inmates.
- Volumetric analysis of prefrontal cortex subregions.
- Resting-state functional connectivity assessment in relation to psychopathy severity.
Main Results:
- Increased prefrontal cortex volumes, especially in the medial orbitofrontal cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, correlated with overall psychopathy severity and Factor 2 scores (impulsive/antisocial traits).
- Factor 2 scores were positively associated with functional connectivity within several prefrontal cortex areas.
- Findings were independent of age, race, IQ, substance use history, and total brain volume.
Conclusions:
- Evidence suggests co-localized increases in PFC volume and intra-PFC functional connectivity are associated with impulsive/antisocial psychopathic traits.
- These findings contribute to understanding the neurobiology of psychopathy.
- The study highlights the role of specific PFC regions in the expression of psychopathic behaviors.
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