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Toledo F, Carson F. Neurocircuitry of Personality Traits and Intent in Decision-Making. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:351. [PMID: 37232586 PMCID: PMC10215416 DOI: 10.3390/bs13050351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Even though most personality features are moderately stable throughout life, changes can be observed, which influence one's behavioral patterns. A variety of subjective assessments can be performed to track these changes; however, the subjective characteristic of these assessments may lead to questions about intentions and values. The use of neuroimaging techniques may aid the investigation of personality traits through a more objective lens, overcoming the barriers imposed by confounders. Here, neurocircuits associated with changes in personality domains were investigated to address this issue. Cortical systems involved in traits such as extraversion and neuroticism were found to share multiple components, as did traits of agreeableness and conscientiousness, with these four features revolving around the activation and structural integrity of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The attribute of openness appears scattered throughout cortical and subcortical regions, being discussed here as a possible reflection of intent, at the same time modulating and being governed by other traits. Insights on how systems operate on personality may increase comprehension on factors acting on the evolution, development, and consolidation of personality traits through life, as in neurocognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felippe Toledo
- Department of Physiotherapy, LUNEX International University of Health, Exercise and Sports, L-4671 Differdange, Luxembourg;
- Luxembourg Health and Sport Sciences Research Institute A.S.B.L., L-4671 Differdange, Luxembourg
| | - Fraser Carson
- Luxembourg Health and Sport Sciences Research Institute A.S.B.L., L-4671 Differdange, Luxembourg
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, LUNEX International University of Health, Exercise and Sports, L-4671 Differdange, Luxembourg
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Chester SC, Ogawa T, Terao M, Nakai R, Abe N, De Brito SA. Cortical and subcortical grey matter correlates of psychopathic traits in a Japanese community sample of young adults: sex and configurations of factors’ level matter! Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:5043-5054. [PMID: 36300595 PMCID: PMC10151884 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
While neuroimaging research has examined the structural brain correlates of psychopathy predominantly in clinical/forensic male samples from western countries, much less is known about those correlates in non-western community samples. Here, structural magnetic resonance imaging data were analyzed using voxel- and surface-based morphometry to investigate the neuroanatomical correlates of psychopathic traits in a mixed-sex sample of 97 well-functioning Japanese adults (45 males, 21–39 years; M = 27, SD = 5.3). Psychopathic traits were assessed using the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (SRP-SF; 4th Edition). Multiple regression analysis showed greater Factor 1 scores were associated with higher gyrification in the lingual gyrus, and gray matter volume in the anterior cingulate cortex and amygdala/hippocampus border. Total psychopathy and Factor 1 scores interacted with sex to, respectively, predict cortical thickness in the precuneus and gyrification in the superior temporal gyrus. Finally, Factor 1 and Factor 2 traits interacted to predict gyrification in the posterior cingulate cortex. These preliminary data suggest that, while there may be commonalities in the loci of structural brain correlates of psychopathic traits in clinical/forensic and community samples, the nature of that association might be different (i.e. positive) and may vary according to sex and configurations of factors’ level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally C Chester
- University of Birmingham Centre for Human Brain Health, School of Psychology, , Birmingham, UK
| | - Tatsuyoshi Ogawa
- Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Division of Transdisciplinary Sciences, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Technology, , Nomi, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Maki Terao
- Institute for the Future of Human Society , Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ryusuke Nakai
- Institute for the Future of Human Society , Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Nobuhito Abe
- Institute for the Future of Human Society , Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Stephane A De Brito
- University of Birmingham Centre for Human Brain Health, School of Psychology, , Birmingham, UK
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Klöckner MS, Jordan K, Kiehl KA, Nyalakanti PK, Harenski CL, Müller JL. Widespread and interrelated gray matter reductions in child sexual offenders with and without pedophilia: Evidence from a multivariate structural MRI study. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2021; 75:331-340. [PMID: 34346537 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AIM To further investigate the neuroanatomical correlates of child sexual offending and disentangle them from the neural correlates of pedophilia, using a multivariate analytical approach in order to minimize loss of statistical power. METHODS This study presents structural MRI data on gray matter in an incarcerated, male population of 22 pedophilic and 21 non-pedophilic child sexual offenders, and 20 violent non-sexual offender controls, based on a multivariate whole-brain approach using source-based morphometry. RESULTS We identify a network of several neuroanatomical regions exhibiting interrelated reduced gray matter in both child sexual offender groups relative to controls, comprising extensive clusters in the bilateral cerebellum and frontal lobe, as well as smaller clusters in the bilateral parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, the bilateral basal ganglia, the medial cingulate and the hippocampus. CONCLUSION Our results speak to the interpretation that there are inter- and possibly connectivity-related brain structural abnormalities in child sexual offenders that are not (only) pertaining to pedophilia per se. Interpretations and limitations of the present data are discussed and recommendations for future works are given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona S Klöckner
- Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Research Department Transnational Politics, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Kirsten Jordan
- Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kent A Kiehl
- The Mind Research Network & Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Prashanth K Nyalakanti
- The Mind Research Network & Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Carla L Harenski
- The Mind Research Network & Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Jürgen L Müller
- Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Abstract
Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by a constellation of affective, interpersonal, lifestyle and antisocial features whose antecedents can be identified in a subgroup of young people showing severe antisocial behaviour. The prevalence of psychopathy in the general population is thought to be ~1%, but is up to 25% in prisoners. The aetiology of psychopathy is complex, with contributions of both genetic and environmental risk factors, and gene-environment interactions and correlations. Psychopathy is characterized by structural and functional brain abnormalities in cortical (such as the prefrontal and insular cortices) and subcortical (for example, the amygdala and striatum) regions leading to neurocognitive disruption in emotional responsiveness, reinforcement-based decision-making and attention. Although no effective treatment exists for adults with psychopathy, preliminary intervention studies targeting key neurocognitive disturbances have shown promising results. Given that psychopathy is often comorbid with other psychiatric disorders and increases the risk of physical health problems, educational and employment failure, accidents and criminality, the identification of children and young people at risk for this personality disorder and preventative work are important. Indeed, interventions that target the antecedents of psychopathic features in children and adolescents have been found to be effective.
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Structural Degradation in Midcingulate Cortex Is Associated with Pathological Aggression in Mice. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11070868. [PMID: 34209993 PMCID: PMC8301779 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11070868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological aggression is a debilitating feature of many neuropsychiatric disorders, and cingulate cortex is one of the brain areas centrally implicated in its control. Here we explore the specific role of midcingulate cortex (MCC) in the development of pathological aggression. To this end, we investigated the structural and functional degeneration of MCC in the BALB/cJ strain, a mouse model for pathological aggression. Compared to control animals from the BALB/cByJ strain, BALB/cJ mice expressed consistently heightened levels of aggression, as assessed by the resident-intruder test. At the same time, immunohistochemistry demonstrated stark structural degradation in the MCC of aggressive BALB/cJ mice: Decreased neuron density and widespread neuron death were accompanied by increased microglia and astroglia concentrations and reactive astrogliosis. cFos staining indicated that this degradation had functional consequences: MCC activity did not differ between BALB/cJ and BALB/cByJ mice at baseline, but unlike BALB/cByJ mice, BALB/cJ mice failed to activate MCC during resident-intruder encounters. This suggests that structural and functional impairments of MCC, triggered by neuronal degeneration, may be one of the drivers of pathological aggression in mice, highlighting MCC as a potential key area for pathologies of aggression in humans.
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Jalava J, Griffiths S, Larsen RR, Alcott BE. Is the Psychopathic Brain an Artifact of Coding Bias? A Systematic Review. Front Psychol 2021; 12:654336. [PMID: 33912115 PMCID: PMC8071952 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.654336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Questionable research practices are a well-recognized problem in psychology. Coding bias, or the tendency of review studies to disproportionately cite positive findings from original research, has received comparatively little attention. Coding bias is more likely to occur when original research, such as neuroimaging, includes large numbers of effects, and is most concerning in applied contexts. We evaluated coding bias in reviews of structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) studies of PCL-R psychopathy. We used PRISMA guidelines to locate all relevant original sMRI studies and reviews. The proportion of null-findings cited in reviews was significantly lower than those reported in original research, indicating coding bias. Coding bias was not affected by publication date or review design. Reviews recommending forensic applications—such as treatment amenability or reduced criminal responsibility—were no more accurate than purely theoretical reviews. Coding bias may have contributed to a perception that structural brain abnormalities in psychopaths are more consistent than they actually are, and by extension that sMRI findings are suitable for forensic application. We discuss possible sources for the pervasive coding bias we observed, and we provide recommendations to counteract this bias in review studies. Until coding bias is addressed, we argue that this literature should not inform conclusions about psychopaths' neurobiology, especially in forensic contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarkko Jalava
- Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Okanagan College, Penticton, BC, Canada
| | - Stephanie Griffiths
- Department of Psychology, Okanagan College, Penticton, BC, Canada.,Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Rasmus Rosenberg Larsen
- Forensic Science Program and Department of Philosophy, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - B Emma Alcott
- Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
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Storvestre GB, Valnes LM, Jensen A, Nerland S, Tesli N, Hymer KE, Rosaeg C, Server A, Ringen PA, Jacobsen M, Andreassen OA, Agartz I, Melle I, Haukvik UK. A preliminary study of cortical morphology in schizophrenia patients with a history of violence. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2019; 288:29-36. [PMID: 31071542 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2019.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Clinical studies of patients with schizophrenia and a history of violence are challenging both from an ethical and practical perspective, and the neurobiological underpinnings remain largely unknown. We here present a comprehensive account of the brain cortical characteristics associated with violence in schizophrenia. We obtained 3T MRI scans and thorough clinical characterization of schizophrenia patients with a history of violence (murder, attempted murder, criminal assault, SCZ-V, n = 11), schizophrenia patients with no history of violence (SCZ-NV, n = 17), and healthy controls (HC, n = 19). Cortical thickness, area, and folding were analyzed vertex-wise across the cortical mantle (FreeSurfer). SCZ-V had significantly increased cortical folding in the visual and orbitofrontal cortex, and reduced cortical thickness within the precentral-, parietal-, temporal-, and fusiform cortex compared to SCZ-NV, as well as widespread regional thinning and increased folding compared to HC. There were no group differences in cortical area. A major limitation is the small subject sample. If replicated, the results from this pilot study suggest cortical abnormalities in areas involved in sensory processing, emotion recognition, and reward to be of importance to the neurobiology of violence in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Stener Nerland
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute for Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Natalia Tesli
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O.Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Andres Server
- Section of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Petter Andreas Ringen
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
| | | | - Ole Andreas Andreassen
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute for Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingrid Agartz
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute for Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingrid Melle
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute for Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Unn Kristin Haukvik
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; Department of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O.Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway.
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Johanson M, Vaurio O, Tiihonen J, Lähteenvuo M. A Systematic Literature Review of Neuroimaging of Psychopathic Traits. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:1027. [PMID: 32116828 PMCID: PMC7016047 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.01027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Core psychopathy is characterized by grandiosity, callousness, manipulativeness, and lack of remorse, empathy, and guilt. It is often comorbid with conduct disorder and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Psychopathy is present in forensic as well as prison and general populations. In recent years, an increasing amount of neuroimaging studies has been conducted in order to elucidate the obscure neurobiological etiology of psychopathy. The studies have yielded heterogenous results, and no consensus has been reached. AIMS This study systematically reviewed and qualitatively summarized functional and structural neuroimaging studies conducted on individuals with psychopathic traits. Furthermore, this study aimed to evaluate whether the findings from different MRI modalities could be reconciled from a neuroanatomical perspective. MATERIALS AND METHODS After the search and auditing processes, 118 neuroimaging studies were included in this systematic literature review. The studies consisted of structural, functional, and diffusion tensor MRI studies. RESULTS Psychopathy was associated with numerous neuroanatomical abnormalities. Structurally, gray matter anomalies were seen in frontotemporal, cerebellar, limbic, and paralimbic regions. Associated gray matter volume (GMV) reductions were most pronounced particularly in most of the prefrontal cortex, and temporal gyri including the fusiform gyrus. Also decreased GMV of the amygdalae and hippocampi as well the cingulate and insular cortices were associated with psychopathy, as well as abnormal morphology of the hippocampi, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens. Functionally, psychopathy was associated with dysfunction of the default mode network, which was also linked to poor moral judgment as well as deficient metacognitive and introspective abilities. Second, reduced white matter integrity in the uncinate fasciculus and dorsal cingulum were associated with core psychopathy. Third, emotional detachment was associated with dysfunction of the posterior cerebellum, the human mirror neuron system and the Theory of Mind denoting lack of empathy and persistent failure in integrating affective information into cognition. CONCLUSIONS Structural and functional aberrancies involving the limbic and paralimbic systems including reduced integrity of the uncinate fasciculus appear to be associated with core psychopathic features. Furthermore, this review points towards the idea that ASPD and psychopathy might stem from divergent biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mika Johanson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olli Vaurio
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Markku Lähteenvuo
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
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