Localization of deformations within the amygdala in individuals with psychopathy.
BACKGROUND
Despite the repeated findings of impaired fear conditioning and affective recognition in psychopathic individuals, there has been a paucity of brain imaging research on the amygdala and no evidence suggesting which regions within the amygdala may be structurally compromised in individuals with psychopathy.


OBJECTIVE
To detect global and regional anatomical abnormalities in the amygdala in individuals with psychopathy.


METHODS
Cross-sectional design using structural magnetic resonance imaging.


METHODS
Participants were recruited from high-risk communities (temporary employment agencies) in the Los Angeles, California, area and underwent imaging at a hospital research facility at the University of Southern California.


METHODS
Twenty-seven psychopathic individuals as defined by the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised and 32 normal controls matched on age, sex, and ethnicity.


METHODS
Amygdala volumes were examined using traditional volumetric analyses and surface-based mesh modeling methods were used to localize regional surface deformations.


RESULTS
Individuals with psychopathy showed significant bilateral volume reductions in the amygdala compared with controls (left, 17.1%; right, 18.9%). Surface deformations were localized in regions in the approximate vicinity of the basolateral, lateral, cortical, and central nuclei of the amygdala. Significant correlations were found between reduced amygdala volumes and increased total and facet psychopathy scores, with correlations strongest for the affective and interpersonal facets of psychopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
Results provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, of focal amygdala abnormalities in psychopathic individuals and corroborate findings from previous lesion studies. Findings support prior hypotheses of amygdala deficits in individuals with psychopathy and indicate that amygdala abnormalities contribute to emotional and behavioral symptoms of psychopathy.
Yang
Yaling
Y
Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. yaling.yang@loni.ucla.edu
Raine
Adrian
A
Narr
Katherine L
KL
Colletti
Patrick
P
Toga
Arthur W
AW
D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology*; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales