Volume Reduction in Prefrontal Gray Matter in Unsuccessful Criminal Psychopaths

Yang, Yaling; Raine, Adrian; Lencz, Todd; Bihrle, Susan; LaCasse, Lori; Colletti, Patrick M.

doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.01.021

Cited by 265 publications

(203 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The finding of right hemisphere pathology in psychopaths is consistent with observations from lesion studies, showing that damage to the right hemisphere impairs the ability for effective recognition, especially for negative facial expression, 6,7 similar to dysfunctions documented in psychopaths. 1 Our findings of cortical thinning within frontal and temporal regions are also in agreement with earlier studies that show frontal and temporal gray matter volume reductions in psychopathic individuals, 5,8 and support earlier hypotheses that both regions and/or associated disturbances of fronto-temporal circuitry play an important role in the underlying neuropathology of psychopathy.…”

supporting

confidence: 86%

Abnormal temporal and prefrontal cortical gray matter thinning in psychopaths

et al. 2009

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supporting

confidence: 86%

Abnormal temporal and prefrontal cortical gray matter thinning in psychopaths

et al. 2009

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“…However, evidence suggests that specifically the inhibition and shifting components are not related to intelligence, as measured with standard IQ tests (Friedman et al, 2006), indicating that a positive association between Factor 1 and IQ does not automatically implicate a similar association between Factor 1 and EF. The suggestion of a positive association between EF and Factor 1 may be further supported by the idea that an enhanced capacity to exert social dominance and to manipulate other people for one's own benefit may require intact/enhanced EF capabilities (e.g., Babiak, 2008), and by the finding of a significant positive association between prefrontal white matter volume and the interpersonal facet specifically (although a negative association existed for gray matter volume; Yang et al, 2005). Moreover, at least based on self-reports of attentional capacities, Factor 1 has been found to be positively associated with (judged) selective-attention and attentional shifting abilities (Baskin-Sommers et al, 2009, 2012.…”

Section: Psychopathy and Executive Functioningmentioning

confidence: 94%

No clear evidence for a positive association between the interpersonal-affective aspects of psychopathy and executive functioning

Maes

Brazil

2013

Psychiatry Research

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Common psychopathy rating instruments distinguish between an interpersonal-affective and an antisocial dimension. The suggestion that the interpersonal-affective dimension, often considered to be the core feature of psychopathy, is positively associated with executive functioning is occasionally made in the literature, without reporting objective empirical data. The primary aim of the present paper was to search for empirical studies reporting relevant data, focussing on four aspects of 'cold' executive functioning: inhibition, attentional shifting, working memory, and planning. Eleven published articles were identified, reporting data of 721 individuals from incarcerated and non-incarcerated, male and female, and adult and non-adult samples. Using a heterogeneous set of tests and dependent measures across studies, the inhibition and attentional shifting components were assessed in eight and five studies, respectively; the working memory and planning components each in two studies. A small majority of the studies found positive associations with the different executive functions, although the associations were mostly nonsignificant. Given the scarcity of studies and the use of heterogeneous populations, tests and statistical analyses, no robust conclusions can be drawn at this stage. Therefore, caution is needed when claiming a positive association between the interpersonal-affective features of psychopathy and executive functioning. Clearly more research is needed to further validate and specify the suggested association.

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“…Additionally, some studies (e.g. Yang et al 2005;Raine et al 1998) have worked to tease apart the complexities differentiating types of offenders and related prefrontal brain differences.…”

Section: Frontal Abnormalities In Adult Psychopathsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If so, there may be greater traction in brain research focused on specific traits of psychopathy, rather than on the more global psychopathy construct. As one example, the specific psychopathic feature of pathological lying and deception has been the focus of one study documenting increased prefrontal white matter in such individuals compared to both antisocial and normal control groups (Yang et al 2005). Future research could usefully focus on other specific psychopathic features -for example grandiosity, irresponsibility, and lack of long-term planning -and widen the scope beyond the psychopathic traits of callousness and lack of empathy that are being increasingly researched.…”

Section: Recommendations For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain imaging research on psychopathy: Implications for punishment, prediction, and treatment in youth and adults

Umbach

Berryessa

Raine

2015

Journal of Criminal Justice

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While there has been an exponential increase in brain imaging research on psychopathy in the past two decades, knowledge on the brain basis to child and adolescent psychopathic-like behavior is relatively new. This adult and child research has potential future implications for the development of new interventions, prediction of future offending, and punishment. This review examines both adult and child literatures on the neural basis of psychopathy, together with implications for the criminal justice system. The adult imaging literature provides growing evidence for amygdala structural and functional impairments in psychopaths, and more variable evidence for prefrontal deficits. The emerging child and adolescent imaging literature with notable exceptions broadly parallels these adult findings and may help explain the development of fearlessness, disinhibition, and lack of empathy. This knowledge places policy makers at a crossroads. Should new biological interventions be developed to remediate these brain abnormalities? Would imaging be used in the future to predict offending? Could imaging findings help excuse psychopathic behavior or alternatively argue for longer sentences for public protection? This review attempts to address these issues at the child and adult levels and provides directions for future research that include the incorporation of biological measures into treatment programs. AbstractWhile there has been an exponential increase in brain imaging research on psychopathy in the past two decades, knowledge on the brain basis to child and adolescent psychopathic-like behavior is relatively new. This adult and child research has potential future implications for the development of new interventions, prediction of future offending, and punishment. This review examines both adult and child literatures on the neural basis of psychopathy, together with implications for the criminal justice system. The adult imaging literature provides growing evidence for amygdala structural and functional impairments in psychopaths, and more variable evidence for prefrontal deficits. The emerging child and adolescent imaging literature with notable exceptions broadly parallels these adult findings and may help explain the development of fearlessness, disinhibition, and lack of empathy. This knowledge places policy makers at a crossroads. Should new biological interventions be developed to remediate these brain abnormalities? Would imaging be used in the future to predict offending? Could imaging findings help excuse psychopathic behavior or alternatively argue for longer sentences for public protection? This review attempts to address these issues at the child and adult levels and provides directions for future research that include the incorporation of biological measures into treatment programs.4

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Volume Reduction in Prefrontal Gray Matter in Unsuccessful Criminal Psychopaths

Cited by 265 publications

References 23 publications

Abnormal temporal and prefrontal cortical gray matter thinning in psychopaths

Abnormal temporal and prefrontal cortical gray matter thinning in psychopaths

No clear evidence for a positive association between the interpersonal-affective aspects of psychopathy and executive functioning

Brain imaging research on psychopathy: Implications for punishment, prediction, and treatment in youth and adults

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