Evidence for superior neurobiological and behavioral inhibitory control abilities in non-offending as compared to offending pedophiles

Abstract

Neurobehavioral models of pedophilia and child sexual offending suggest a pattern of temporal and in particular prefrontal disturbances leading to inappropriate behavioral control and subsequently an increased propensity to sexually offend against children. However, clear empirical evidence for such mechanisms is still missing. Using a go/nogo paradigm in combination with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) we compared behavioral performance and neural response patterns among three groups of men matched for age and IQ: pedophiles with (N = 40) and without (N = 37) a history of hands-on sexual offences against children as well as healthy non-offending controls (N = 40). As compared to offending pedophiles, non-offending pedophiles exhibited superior inhibitory control as reflected by significantly lower rate of commission errors. Group-by-condition interaction analysis also revealed inhibition-related activation in the left posterior cingulate and the left superior frontal cortex that distinguished between offending and non-offending pedophiles, while no significant differences were found between pedophiles and healthy controls. Both areas showing distinct activation pattern among pedophiles play a critical role in linking neural networks that relate to effective cognitive functioning. Data therefore suggest that heightened inhibition-related recruitment of these areas as well as decreased amount of commission errors is related to better inhibitory control in pedophiles who successfully avoid committing hands-on sexual offences against children. Hum Brain Mapp 38:1092-1104, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Are There Any Biomarkers for Pedophilia and Sexual Child Abuse? A Review

“…Supporting functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and EEG studies (see below), neuropsychological research has shown executive dysfunctions in child sexual offenders (92). Interestingly, a recent neuropsychological study supports the results by Kärgel et al (91) in so far as executive dysfunctions (worsened response inhibition abilities) are related to offense status rather than pedophilic preference (93).…”

“…Furthermore, an increased inhibition related activity in left posterior cingulate and left superior frontal cortex, areas associated with effective cognitive functioning, was found in non-offending pedophiles. According to Kärgel et al, these data indicate a better inhibitory control in pedophiles who successfully avoid committing handson sexual offenses against children (91).…”

“…Results of fMRI, and neuropsychological studies found impaired (motor) response inhibition functions in sexual offenders against children (90,92). Recent studies revealed that a worsened response inhibition ability is related to offense status rather than pedophilic preference (91,93).…”

“…Based on these results, Habermeyer et al assumed a higher degree of inattention and increased self-referential processes in their pedophilic sex offenders while performing the no-go task (90). Applying a similar task with larger groups, Kärgel et al (91) could differentiate offending (n = 40) and non-offending pedophiles (n = 37). While no general group differences were found between pedophilic subjects and non-offending healthy controls (n = 40), non-offending pedophiles exhibited superior inhibitory control behavior compared to offending pedophiles.…”

The Effects of Acute Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Attentional Bias in Pedophilic Disorder: A Pre-registered Pilot Study

“…Lastly, all of our patients had a history of sexual offending against children. According to previous research, SOC with PD present reduced inhibitory control compared to men with PD but no offence history (Kärgel et al, 2016;Massau et al, 2017). Thus, impaired inhibitory control might increase the risk of offending, and different levels of impairment might be associated with contact compared to noncontact or no offending.…”