Mesolimbic dopamine reward system hypersensitivity in individuals with psychopathic traits.
Psychopathy is a personality disorder that is strongly linked to criminal behavior. Using [(18)F]fallypride positron emission tomography and blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging, we found that impulsive-antisocial psychopathic traits selectively predicted nucleus accumbens dopamine release and reward anticipation-related neural activity in response to pharmacological and monetary reinforcers, respectively. These findings suggest that neurochemical and neurophysiological hyper-reactivity of the dopaminergic reward system may comprise a neural substrate for impulsive-antisocial behavior and substance abuse in psychopathy.
Buckholtz
Joshua W
JW
Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. joshua.buckholtz@vanderbilt.edu
Treadway
Michael T
MT
Cowan
Ronald L
RL
Woodward
Neil D
ND
Benning
Stephen D
SD
Li
Rui
R
Ansari
M Sib
MS
Baldwin
Ronald M
RM
Schwartzman
Ashley N
AN
Shelby
Evan S
ES
Smith
Clarence E
CE
Cole
David
D
Kessler
Robert M
RM
Zald
David H
DH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D008032:Limbic System / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000378:metabolism*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D012201:Reward; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult
D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D004298:Dopamine