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Jiang Y, Gao Y, Dong D, Sun X, Situ W, Yao S. The amygdala volume moderates the relationship between childhood maltreatment and callous-unemotional traits in adolescents with conduct disorder. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2025; 34:205-214. [PMID: 38832960 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-024-02482-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
CU traits, characterized by shallow affect, lack of fear, and absence of remorse, have been moderately associated with childhood maltreatment in a recent meta-analysis. However, the potential impact of brain structures remains undetermined. This paper examines the relationship between callous-unemotional (CU) traits, childhood maltreatment, and amygdala volumes. In this study, we used a region-of-interest (ROI) analysis to explore the interaction between the volumes of the amygdala, childhood maltreatment, and the manifestation of CU traits in adolescents diagnosed with conduct disorder (CD, N = 67), along with a comparison group of healthy-control youths (HCs, N = 89). The ROI analysis revealed no significant group differences in the bilateral amygdalar volumes. Significant positive correlation was discovered between all forms of child maltreatment (except for physical neglect) and CU traits across subjects. But the interaction of physical abuse and amygdala volumes was only significant within CD patients. Notably, a sensitivity analysis suggested that gender significantly influences these findings. These results contribute critical insights into the etiology of CU traits, emphasizing the need for customized clinical assessment tools and intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yali Jiang
- Department of Psychology, School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.
- Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.
- Research Base for Mental Health Education of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yidian Gao
- Centre for Human Brain Health, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Daifeng Dong
- Medical Psychological Center, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoqiang Sun
- Medical Psychological Center, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Weijun Situ
- Department of Radiology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuqiao Yao
- Medical Psychological Center, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center on Psychiatry and Psychology, Changsha, People's Republic of China
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2
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Mizrahi I, klein Selle N. Fast & furious: Rejecting the hypothesis that secondary psychopathy improves reaction time-based concealed information detection. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0311948. [PMID: 39405309 PMCID: PMC11478853 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 09/28/2024] [Indexed: 10/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Deception, a complex aspect of human behavior, is inherently difficult to detect directly. A valid alternative involves memory detection, particularly through methods such as the Reaction-Time based Concealed Information Test (RT-CIT). The RT-CIT assesses whether an individual possesses specific knowledge by presenting various probe (familiar) items amidst irrelevant (unfamiliar) items. The task-required "unfamiliar" response to probes may induce a response conflict. Resolving this conflict, by inhibiting the automatic "familiar" response, takes time and slows probe RTs-a phenomenon known as the RT-CIT effect. Notably, secondary psychopathy is characterized by disinhibition and impulsivity, traits which may hinder the ability to effectively manage experienced conflict. Therefore, we hypothesized that secondary psychopathy would be associated with an elevated RT-CIT effect. To investigate this hypothesized relation, we conducted a pre-registered study (n = 86, student sample), employing a novel CIT paradigm that incorporates no-go trials to assess response inhibition capacity. Psychopathic traits were measured using the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy (LSRP) scale, while the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) assessed impulsivity. The novel CIT paradigm revealed impressive detection efficiency. However, contrary to our expectations, we observed no significant correlation between the RT-CIT effect and secondary psychopathic traits (BF01 = 6.98). This cautiously suggests that while secondary psychopathic tendencies do not improve RT-CIT validity, they also do not compromise it. Although future investigations should explore more diverse contexts and populations, this tentative finding is reassuring and underscores the robustness of the CIT paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imbar Mizrahi
- Department of Criminology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Nathalie klein Selle
- Department of Criminology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- The Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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3
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Dugré JR, Potvin S. Functional Connectivity of the Nucleus Accumbens across Variants of Callous-Unemotional Traits: A Resting-State fMRI Study in Children and Adolescents. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2024; 52:353-368. [PMID: 37878131 PMCID: PMC10896801 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-023-01143-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
A large body of literature suggests that the primary (high callousness-unemotional traits [CU] and low anxiety) and secondary (high CU traits and anxiety) variants of psychopathy significantly differ in terms of their clinical profiles. However, little is known about their neurobiological differences. While few studies showed that variants differ in brain activity during fear processing, it remains unknown whether they also show atypical functioning in motivational and reward system. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was conducted on a large sample of adolescents (n = 1416) to identify variants based on their levels of callousness and anxiety. Seed-to-voxel connectivity analysis was subsequently performed on resting-state fMRI data to compare connectivity patterns of the nucleus accumbens across subgroups. LPA failed to identify the primary variant when using total score of CU traits. Using a family-wise cluster correction, groups did not differ on functional connectivity. However, at an uncorrected threshold the secondary variant showed distinct functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and posterior insula, lateral orbitofrontal cortex, supplementary motor area, and parietal regions. Secondary LPA analysis using only the callousness subscale successfully distinguish both variants. Group differences replicated results of deficits in functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and posterior insula and supplementary motor area, but additionally showed effect in the superior temporal gyrus which was specific to the primary variant. The current study supports the importance of examining the neurobiological markers across subgroups of adolescents at risk for conduct problems to precise our understanding of this heterogeneous population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jules Roger Dugré
- School of Psychology and Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, England.
| | - Stéphane Potvin
- Research Center of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Hochelaga, Montreal, 7331, H1N 3V2, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, Faculty of medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada.
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Kaouar S, Fleming GE, Neo B, Hawes DJ, Eapen V, Kimonis ER. Dimensions of Warm Parenting Attributions Differentiate Conduct Problem Subtypes in Young Children. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2024; 52:223-236. [PMID: 37581855 PMCID: PMC10834570 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-023-01111-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the developmental psychopathology of child conduct problems (CP) has been advanced by differentiating subtypes based on levels of internalizing problems (INT) and/or callous-unemotional (CU) traits (i.e., low empathy/guilt, poor motivation, shallow/deficient affect). The current study sought to elucidate prior inconsistencies in the role of warm/positive and harsh/negative parenting subcomponents in CP by differentiating subtypes on the basis of INT and CU traits. Parents of 135 young children (M age = 4.21 years, SD = 1.29) referred to specialty clinics for the treatment of CP completed pre-treatment measures of parenting and rated their child's levels of CP, INT, and CU traits. Results of planned comparisons revealed that mothers of children classified as secondary CU variants (high CU/ high INT) reported fewer overall warm attributions toward their child, compared with CP-only (low CU) children. They also reported a more negative dyadic relationship characterized by feelings of anger/hostility, active avoidance and/or a desire to do harm to their child relative to primary CU variants (high CU/ low INT). Mothers of primary CU variants attributed fewer good and altruistic intentions towards others in their child, relative to CP-only children. Subtypes were undifferentiated on observed positive and negative parenting behaviors, indicative of a disconnect between parenting behaviors and cognitions for mothers of children high on CU traits. Findings are discussed in relation to their theoretical and practice implications, and in guiding future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Kaouar
- Parent-Child Research Clinic, School of Psychology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Georgette E Fleming
- Parent-Child Research Clinic, School of Psychology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Bryan Neo
- Parent-Child Research Clinic, School of Psychology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - David J Hawes
- School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Valsamma Eapen
- School of Psychiatry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Eva R Kimonis
- Parent-Child Research Clinic, School of Psychology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Atakan B, Yildirim E. The effect of psychotic proneness and psychopathy on theory of mind. Psych J 2024; 13:139-141. [PMID: 37861367 PMCID: PMC10917094 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the interaction between positive psychotic experiences and psychopathic traits on the theory of mind in a non-clinical sample. The results showed that distinct constructs of psychopathy can lead to distinct theory of mind profiles when interacting with psychotic proneness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Begüm Atakan
- Department of PsychologyIsik UniversityIstanbulTurkey
| | - Elif Yildirim
- Department of PsychologyIsik UniversityIstanbulTurkey
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Kimonis ER. The Emotionally Sensitive Child-Adverse Parenting Experiences-Allostatic (Over)Load (ESCAPE-AL) Model for the Development of Secondary Psychopathic Traits. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2023; 26:1097-1114. [PMID: 37735279 PMCID: PMC10640461 DOI: 10.1007/s10567-023-00455-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Understanding and treatment of antisocial behavior have improved through efforts to subtype individuals based on similar risk factors and outcomes. In particular, the presence of psychopathic traits is associated with distinct etiological factors and antisocial behavior that begins early in life, is aggressive, persistent, and less likely to normalize with traditional treatments, relative to individuals low on psychopathy or its childhood precursor, callous-unemotional (CU) traits. However, important distinctions can be made within individuals with CU/psychopathic traits according to the presence of elevated anxiety symptoms and/or adverse childhood experiences, known as secondary psychopathy/CU traits. This paper provides a broad and brief overview of theory and empirical literature supporting the existence of secondary psychopathy/CU variants as a distinct subtype of childhood antisocial behavior. It outlines the Emotionally Sensitive Child-Adverse Parenting Experiences-Allostatic (Over)Load (ESCAPE-AL) model for the developmental psychopathology of secondary psychopathic/CU traits and discusses research and theory supporting this perspective. Future research directions for testing this conceptual model and its implications for assessing and treating high-risk individuals with secondary CU/psychopathic traits are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva R Kimonis
- Parent-Child Research Clinic, School of Psychology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
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7
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Steeg S, Farooq B, Taylor P, Shafti M, Mars B, Kapur N, Webb RT. Childhood predictors of self-harm, externalised violence and transitioning to dual harm in a cohort of adolescents and young adults. Psychol Med 2023; 53:7116-7126. [PMID: 36999309 PMCID: PMC10719627 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723000557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aetiology of dual harm (co-occurring self-harm and violence towards others) is poorly understood because most studies have investigated self-harm and violence separately. We aimed to examine childhood risk factors for self-harm, violence, and dual harm, including the transition from engaging in single harm to dual harm. METHODS Data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a UK-based birth cohort study, were used to estimate prevalence of self-reported engagement in self-harm, violence, and dual harm at ages 16 and 22 years. Risk ratios were calculated to indicate associations across various self-reported childhood risk factors and risks of single and dual harm, including the transition from single harm at age 16 years to dual harm at age 22. RESULTS At age 16 years, 18.1% of the 4176 cohort members had harmed themselves, 21.1% had engaged in violence towards others and 3.7% reported dual harm. At age 22 the equivalent prevalence estimates increased to 24.2, 25.8 and 6.8%, respectively. Depression and other mental health difficulties, drug and alcohol use, witnessing self-harm and being a victim of, or witnessing, violence were associated with higher risks of transitioning from self-harm or violence at age 16 to dual harm by age 22. CONCLUSIONS Prevalence of dual harm doubled from age 16 to 22 years, highlighting the importance of early identification and intervention during this high-risk period. Several childhood psychosocial risk factors associated specifically with dual harm at age 16 and with the transition to dual harm by age 22 have been identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Steeg
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Centre for Mental Health and Safety, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Bushra Farooq
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Peter Taylor
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Centre for Mental Health and Safety, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Matina Shafti
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Centre for Mental Health and Safety, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Becky Mars
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol, UK
| | - Nav Kapur
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Centre for Mental Health and Safety, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, Manchester, UK
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Roger T Webb
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Centre for Mental Health and Safety, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, Manchester, UK
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8
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Differences in emotional contagion, interpersonal relationships and social rewards in males and females: examining the links with primary and secondary psychopathic traits. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-023-04236-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
AbstractIndividuals with psychopathic traits display low empathy and as a result they have difficulties maintaining meaningful relationships. Emotional contagion, the ability to automatically mimic others’ emotional states (facial expressions, movements), is a precursor of empathy that contributes to relationship quality and is impaired in individuals with psychopathic traits. The current study examines sex differences in primary and secondary psychopathic traits in a sample of 389 participants (Mage = 33.61; 241 females) and the association of these personality traits with romantic and peer relationships, susceptibility to negative (sadness, fear, anger) and positive (happiness, love) emotional contagion and social motivation factors. Hierarchical multiple regressions run separately in male and female participants, revealed different factors contribute to the maintenance of primary and secondary psychopathic traits. Findings infer different difficulties in social functioning (forming and maintaining relationships), regulating emotions, empathizing via emotional contagion, and motivating factors to engage socially, relate to primary and secondary traits, as well as differences in men and women. This research reflects the importance of investigating psychopathic traits heterogeneously in males and females, to better inform prevention efforts focused on hindering the development and maintenance of these personality traits.
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9
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McKinney C, Hovanec SE, Szkody E, Walker CS. Parental Discipline During Emerging Adulthood: A Person-Centered Approach. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2023; 38:NP819-NP846. [PMID: 35343305 DOI: 10.1177/08862605221084745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Although most parental discipline research examines the effects of discipline in children and adolescents, recent research has demonstrated that emerging adults continue to receive parental discipline. Importantly, a newly validated instrument for assessing discipline specifically during emerging adulthood has been created. Scales from this instrument include maternal and paternal approval, disappointment, and abuse, and these scales were associated with other parenting behaviors and psychological outcomes during emerging adulthood. However, a person-centered approach has not been conducted with this instrument. Given that discipline occurs at an idiographic level and that group norms inform such behaviors, a person-centered approach would identify highly informative emerging adult profiles based on patterns of discipline they receive from their parents. Thus, the current study utilized latent profile analysis (LPA) of 1110 participants attending a Southern United States university to identify emerging adult discipline profiles. These groups were then associated with parental and emerging adult psychological problems to gain an understanding of how these factors relate to different patterns of discipline across gender. Results best supported four profiles labeled as approving, distant, disappointed, and abusive. These groups reported increasingly higher parental and personal psychological problems across approving, distant, disappointed, and abusive profiles. Gender moderated some of these effects. Implications and future directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cliff McKinney
- 5547Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Sarah E Hovanec
- 5547Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Erica Szkody
- 5547Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
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10
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Jiang Y, Gao Y, Dong D, Sun X, Situ W, Yao S. Structural abnormalities in adolescents with conduct disorder and high versus low callous unemotional traits. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023; 32:193-203. [PMID: 34635947 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-021-01890-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
There may be distinct conduct disorder (CD) etiologies and neural morphologies in adolescents with high callous unemotional (CU) traits versus low CU traits. Here, we employed surface-based morphometry methods to investigate morphological differences in adolescents diagnosed with CD [42 with high CU traits (CD-HCU) and 40 with low CU traits (CD-LCU)] and healthy controls (HCs, N = 115) in China. Whole-brain analyses revealed significantly increased cortical surface area (SA) in the left inferior temporal cortex and the right precuneus, but decreased SA in the left superior temporal cortex in the CD-LCU group, compared with the HC group. There were no significant cortical SA differences between the CD-HCU and the HC groups. Compared to the CD-HCU group, the CD-LCU group had a greater cortical thickness (CT) in the left rostral middle frontal cortex. Region-of-interest analyses revealed significant group differences in the right hippocampus, with CD-HCU group having lower right hippocampal volumes than HCs. We did not detect significant group differences in the amygdalar volume, however, the right amygdalar volume was found to be a significant moderator of the correlation between CU traits and the proactive aggression in CD patients. The present results suggested that the manifestations of CD differ between those with high CU traits versus low CU traits, and underscore the importance of sample characteristics in understanding the neural substrates of CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yali Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Yidian Gao
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Daifeng Dong
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoqiang Sun
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Weijun Situ
- Department of Radiology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuqiao Yao
- Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.
- National Clinical Research Center on Psychiatry and Psychology, Changsha, People's Republic of China.
- Medical Psychological Institute of Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Changsha, People's Republic of China.
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11
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Psychopathic and autistic traits differentially influence the neural mechanisms of social cognition from communication signals. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:494. [PMID: 36446775 PMCID: PMC9709037 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02260-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychopathy is associated with severe deviations in social behavior and cognition. While previous research described such cognitive and neural alterations in the processing of rather specific social information from human expressions, some open questions remain concerning central and differential neurocognitive deficits underlying psychopathic behavior. Here we investigated three rather unexplored factors to explain these deficits, first, by assessing psychopathy subtypes in social cognition, second, by investigating the discrimination of social communication sounds (speech, non-speech) from other non-social sounds, and third, by determining the neural overlap in social cognition impairments with autistic traits, given potential common deficits in the processing of communicative voice signals. The study was exploratory with a focus on how psychopathic and autistic traits differentially influence the function of social cognitive and affective brain networks in response to social voice stimuli. We used a parametric data analysis approach from a sample of 113 participants (47 male, 66 female) with ages ranging between 18 and 40 years (mean 25.59, SD 4.79). Our data revealed four important findings. First, we found a phenotypical overlap between secondary but not primary psychopathy with autistic traits. Second, primary psychopathy showed various neural deficits in neural voice processing nodes (speech, non-speech voices) and in brain systems for social cognition (mirroring, mentalizing, empathy, emotional contagion). Primary psychopathy also showed deficits in the basal ganglia (BG) system that seems specific to the social decoding of communicative voice signals. Third, neural deviations in secondary psychopathy were restricted to social mirroring and mentalizing impairments, but with additional and so far undescribed deficits at the level of auditory sensory processing, potentially concerning deficits in ventral auditory stream mechanisms (auditory object identification). Fourth, high autistic traits also revealed neural deviations in sensory cortices, but rather in the dorsal auditory processing streams (communicative context encoding). Taken together, social cognition of voice signals shows considerable deviations in psychopathy, with differential and newly described deficits in the BG system in primary psychopathy and at the neural level of sensory processing in secondary psychopathy. These deficits seem especially triggered during the social cognition from vocal communication signals.
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12
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Guo P, Yin Z, Cheng C, Wang M, Su S. The utility of TriPM in distinguishing psychopathic subtypes: A latent profiles analysis in Chinese undergraduates. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03242-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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13
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Carlisi CO, Reed K, Helmink FGL, Lachlan R, Cosker DP, Viding E, Mareschal I. Using genetic algorithms to uncover individual differences in how humans represent facial emotion. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:202251. [PMID: 34659775 PMCID: PMC8511778 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.202251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Emotional facial expressions critically impact social interactions and cognition. However, emotion research to date has generally relied on the assumption that people represent categorical emotions in the same way, using standardized stimulus sets and overlooking important individual differences. To resolve this problem, we developed and tested a task using genetic algorithms to derive assumption-free, participant-generated emotional expressions. One hundred and five participants generated a subjective representation of happy, angry, fearful and sad faces. Population-level consistency was observed for happy faces, but fearful and sad faces showed a high degree of variability. High test-retest reliability was observed across all emotions. A separate group of 108 individuals accurately identified happy and angry faces from the first study, while fearful and sad faces were commonly misidentified. These findings are an important first step towards understanding individual differences in emotion representation, with the potential to reconceptualize the way we study atypical emotion processing in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina O. Carlisi
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, Developmental Risk and Resilience Unit, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AP, UK
| | - Kyle Reed
- Department of Computer Science, University of Bath, 1 West, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Fleur G. L. Helmink
- Erasmus University Medical Center, s-Gravendijkwal 230, Rotterdam 3015 CE, The Netherlands
| | - Robert Lachlan
- Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway University of London, Wolfson Building, Egham TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Darren P. Cosker
- Department of Computer Science, University of Bath, 1 West, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Essi Viding
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, Developmental Risk and Resilience Unit, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AP, UK
| | - Isabelle Mareschal
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Department of Psychology, Queen Mary University of London, G. E. Fogg Building, Mile End Road, London E1 4DQ, UK
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14
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Bender D, Lösel F. Adrenocortical Activity and Aggressive Behavior in Children: A Longitudinal Study on Risk and Protective Effects. Front Psychol 2021; 12:636501. [PMID: 33967902 PMCID: PMC8100437 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.636501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Most research on aggression and delinquency concentrates on risk factors. There has been less attention for protective factors and mechanisms, in particular with regard to biosocial influences. Based on theories of autonomous arousal and stress reactance the present study addresses the influence of adrenocortical activity as a risk and/or protective factor in the development of antisocial behavior in children. We also investigated relations to anxiousness and family stressors. In a prospective longitudinal study of 150 German boys, the first measurement took place at preschool age and contained an assessment of cortisol after waking up and 30 min later. Aggressiveness and anxiousness of the children were assessed by the kindergarten teachers with the Social Behavior Questionnaire. After 6 years, the children's behavior was rated by the teachers in middle school. Variable-oriented data analyses revealed a significant correlation between the total amount of cortisol after waking up and 30 min later (AUC G ) and anxiousness both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, but not with aggressiveness. A family stress index correlated positively with aggressiveness but neither with cortisol nor with anxiousness. There were significant correlations between aggressiveness and anxiousness at kindergarten age and the respective behavior problems 6 years later. In a linear regression analysis on aggression only family stress had a significant effect but anxiousness not. Moderator analyses on aggressiveness with anxiousness and AUC G or on AUC G with anxiousness and aggressiveness did not show any significant interactions. Longitudinally, only aggression significantly predicted aggression 6 years later in a linear regression. In addition to variable-oriented analyses, we also applied a person-oriented approach to investigate specific patterns of behavior. Children who were high in both aggressiveness and anxiousness had the highest cortisol level and those with low anxiousness and high aggressiveness the lowest. The groups with different patterns of externalizing and internalizing problems at preschool age showed significant differences in aggression 6 years later. Our results underline the need for complex pattern analyses on cortisol, aggression, and anxiousness in children and for a differentiated consideration of emotional reactive aggression and unemotional instrumental aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Bender
- Institute of Psychology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Friedrich Lösel
- Institute of Psychology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Examining Student–Teacher Relationship and Callous–Unemotional Traits in Children with Adverse Childhood Experiences. SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12310-020-09397-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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16
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Born this way? A review of neurobiological and environmental evidence for the etiology of psychopathy. PERSONALITY NEUROSCIENCE 2020; 2:e8. [PMID: 32435743 PMCID: PMC7219694 DOI: 10.1017/pen.2019.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Across a significant body of research, psychopathy has often been conceptualized as a biologically based malady. In this research, genetic and neurobiological differences have been conceptualized to underlie psychopathy, while affected individuals' life experiences only influence expressed psychopathic features and their severity. Psychopathy research has largely ignored developmental evidence demonstrating significant influences of environment on both biological and behavioral processes, resulting in several prominent criticisms (Edens & Vincent, 2008; Loeber, Byrd, & Farrington, 2015). The current review was conducted with two main aims: (a) to collect and consider etiological evidence from the extant body of research on genetic and neurobiological factors in psychopathy; and (b) to evaluate findings from genetic, neurotransmitter, brain structure, and brain function studies in the context of relevant evidence from developmental research. Examples from research on adversity and traumatic stress, a common correlate of psychopathy, were used to highlight current research gaps and future directions to aid in the integration of developmental and neurobiological research agendas. While some promising evidence exists regarding possible underlying neurobiological processes of psychopathic traits, this evidence is insufficient to suggest a largely biological etiology for the disorder. Further, information from developmental and epigenetic research may suggest complex, multidimensional trajectories for individuals experiencing psychopathy. Based on these observations, the authors make several recommendations for future research, as well as for current clinical application and practice.
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Carroll GA, Cohen LR, McParland A, Jack S, Montrose VT. Individuals with Psychopathic Traits and Poor Attitudes towards Animals Can Recognise Infant Features But Give Them Reduced Attentional Priority. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10040721. [PMID: 32326211 PMCID: PMC7222839 DOI: 10.3390/ani10040721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Certain facial characteristics in companion animals are perceived by humans as being ‘cute’. This includes having large eyes, a round head and a small nose and mouth. These characteristics, which are shared with human infants, trigger care-giving responses in humans. Despite this, however, companion animal abuse occurs. The aim of this research was to better understand cognitive processes of people with pro-social personality traits and positive attitudes towards animals compared to those with anti-social personality traits and negative attitudes towards animals. This was done by assessing participants’ ability to detect cues of cuteness in animal and human infant faces (study 1) and by assessing attention to cuteness cues via an eye-tracking task (study 2). Findings indicate that the ability to detect cuteness cues is widespread, regardless of personality or attitudes. However, individuals with anti-social personality traits and negative attitudes towards animals chose to pay less attention to ‘cute’ stimuli in the eye-tracking task. This proof of concept study is an initial step in determining how individuals ‘at risk’ of committing animal abuse process information on infant features in animals. Abstract Infant features are physical traits that are characteristic of human infants and include facial features such as large and low-lying eyes, and a small nose and mouth. Animals possessing high levels of infant features elicit care-giving responses in humans. Despite this, animal cruelty is a common occurrence. The aim of this research was to determine whether the ability to recognise and/or attend to infant features is linked to subclinical psychopathic traits and attitudes towards animals. Using a community sample, participants (n = 387) completed a cuteness forced-choice task. Self-reported psychopathy and attitude towards animals were not related to the participants’ ability to detect cues of cuteness in human infants and animals. In a second study, participants (n = 142) were screened for low versus high primary psychopathy and low versus high animal attitude scores. A Psychopathy-Attitude Composite score was created and a subset of participants (n = 50) from the upper and lower quartiles completed a free-viewing eye-tracking task where ‘Cute’, ‘Neutral, ‘Monetary’ and ‘Control’ images were presented in pairs. Higher levels of psychopathic traits and an anti-animal welfare attitude were associated with decreased attention to ‘Cute’ images in terms of decreased dwell time, mean fixation duration and mean fixation count, measures of voluntary attention. There were a number of interactions between Psychopathy-Attitude Composite classification and attention to each image category in terms of dwell time, first fixation duration, mean fixation duration and fixation count. These findings support the theory that individuals with psychopathic traits recognise facial cues of vulnerability but choose to give them reduced attentional priority. This may have implications for animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace A. Carroll
- Animal Behaviour Centre, School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, David Keir Building, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast BT95BN, UK; (L.R.C.); (A.M.); (S.J.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-2890-974-385
| | - Leah R. Cohen
- Animal Behaviour Centre, School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, David Keir Building, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast BT95BN, UK; (L.R.C.); (A.M.); (S.J.)
| | - Aideen McParland
- Animal Behaviour Centre, School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, David Keir Building, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast BT95BN, UK; (L.R.C.); (A.M.); (S.J.)
| | - Sam Jack
- Animal Behaviour Centre, School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, David Keir Building, 18-30 Malone Road, Belfast BT95BN, UK; (L.R.C.); (A.M.); (S.J.)
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Drinkwater KG, Dagnall N, Denovan A. Dark Triad Traits and Sleep-Related Constructs: An Opinion Piece. Front Psychol 2020; 11:505. [PMID: 32265801 PMCID: PMC7096540 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Fanti KA, Konikou K, Cohn M, Popma A, Brazil IA. Amygdala functioning during threat acquisition and extinction differentiates antisocial subtypes. J Neuropsychol 2019; 14:226-241. [PMID: 31058425 DOI: 10.1111/jnp.12183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Extensive work implicates abnormal amygdala response during threatening stimuli in youth with antisocial behaviour. However, no research has examined whether youth identified in Primary and Secondary psychopathy subtypes would show differences in amygdala activity in response to threat acquisition and extinction. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify distinct antisocial groups based on participants' scores on callous-unemotional (CU) traits, anxiety, and familial abuse in a sample of 136 high-risk adolescents (mean age = 17.7, SD = 1.6; 86% male). Functional MRI was then used to assess amygdala activation patterns during a classical differential delay threat-conditioning task. In addition to the Primary and Secondary subtypes, we identified groups mainly high on anxiety and others who were mainly high on abuse. Participants in the Primary group showed lower right amygdala activity in response to neutral male faces compared to the low, Anxious, and Secondary groups, whereas participants in the group with history of abuse exhibited higher right amygdala activity during threat acquisition compared to the rest of the groups. During threat extinction, the Primary group showed lower right amygdala activity compared to the Secondary and abuse groups. This is the first study to reveal amygdala activation in identified psychopathy-related variants during threat conditioning. We found that stratifying the sample based on the identified variants revealed amygdala functioning patterns that furthered our understanding of emotion-based deficits among high-risk adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Moran Cohn
- VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arne Popma
- VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Inti A Brazil
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Division Diagnostics, Research & Education, Forensic Psychiatric Centre Pompestichting, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Antwerp, Belgium.,Centre for Advances in Behavioural Science, Coventry University, UK
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