[The neurobiology of antisocial behaviour].
BACKGROUND
Neuro-imaging is being used increasingly to provide explanations for antisocial behaviour.


OBJECTIVE
To make a neurobiological contribution to the diagnosis of many types of antisocial behaviour.


METHODS
The literature was searched using PubMed and combinations of the keywords 'psychopathy', 'antisocial', 'neurobiology' and 'neuro-anatomy' for the period 1990-2009.


RESULTS
Impairments in the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, superior temporal gyrus, corpus callosum and anterior cingulate cortex provide a possible explanation for a large number of the symptoms associated with antisocial behaviour. The concept of psychopathy is connected mainly with impairments in a prefrontal-temporal-limbic system. CONCLUSION Combinations of deficiencies in the associated brain areas and malfunctioning of the communication between the various brain structures seem to play a more important role than deficiencies in the separate brain structures.
Loomans
M M
MM
Erasmus MC te Rotterdam. m.loomans@erasmusmc.nl
Tulen
J H M
JH
van Marle
H J C
HJ
D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D011599:Psychopathology