title: Behavioral effects of congenital ventromedial prefrontal cortex malformation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A detailed behavioral profile associated with focal congenital malformation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) has not been reported previously. Here we describe a 14 year-old boy, B.W., with neurological and psychiatric sequelae stemming from focal cortical malformation of the left vmPFC.
  
  
  METHODS
  B.W.'s behavior has been characterized through extensive review Patience of clinical and personal records along with behavioral and neuropsychological testing. A central feature of the behavioral profile is severe antisocial behavior. He is aggressive, manipulative, and callous; features consistent with psychopathy. Other problems include: egocentricity, impulsivity, hyperactivity, lack of empathy, lack of respect for authority, impaired moral judgment, an inability to plan ahead, and poor frustration tolerance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vmPFC has a profound contribution to the development of human prosocial behavior. B.W. demonstrates how a congenital lesion to this cortical region severely disrupts this process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02114, USA. aboes@partners.org
authors.forename: Aaron D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Boes
authors.forename: Amanda Hornaday
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Grafft
authors.forename: Charuta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Nathaniel A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Peg
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nopoulos
authors.forename: Steven W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000209:etiology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000002:abnormalities*; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology; D059020:Suicidal Ideation