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Related Experiment Videos

The contingent negative variation, personality and antisocial behaviour.

R C Howard, G W Fenton, P B Fenwick

    The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
    |May 1, 1984
    PubMed
    Summary

    Higher amplitude contingent negative variation (CNV) brain activity was observed in primary psychopaths. This electroencephalography finding correlates with sociability, differentiating them from other patient groups.

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    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Psychiatry
    • Psychology

    Background:

    • The contingent negative variation (CNV) is an electroencephalography (EEG) measure reflecting anticipatory brain activity.
    • Antisocial personality disorder, particularly psychopathy, is associated with distinct neurophysiological patterns.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate contingent negative variation (CNV) differences in male patients with antisocial personality disorder.
    • To explore the relationship between CNV amplitude and specific psychopathic traits, including anxiety and sociability.

    Main Methods:

    • Recorded CNV using a classical click/flash paradigm in 60 male admissions to Broadmoor Hospital.
    • Conducted independent clinical and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) assessments.
    • Compared CNV amplitudes between patients diagnosed with psychopathic disorder and those with mental illness, as well as staff controls.

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    Main Results:

    • A trend for higher CNV amplitudes was observed in patients diagnosed with antisocial (psychopathic) personality.
    • Patients with psychopathic disorder showed significantly higher CNV voltages than those in the mental illness category.
    • These elevated CNV differences were specific to primary (non-anxious, sociable) psychopaths, not secondary psychopaths.
    • A positive association was found between CNV voltage and sociability, and a weak negative correlation with impulsivity.

    Conclusions:

    • Contingent negative variation (CNV) may serve as a neurophysiological marker differentiating primary psychopaths.
    • Sociability appears to be a key factor influencing CNV amplitude in psychopathic individuals.
    • Further research is warranted to elucidate the neurobiological underpinnings of psychopathy using EEG measures.