Frontal information flow and connectivity in psychopathy.
Despite accumulating evidence of structural deficits in individuals with psychopathy, especially in frontal regions, our understanding of systems-level disturbances in cortical networks remains limited. We applied novel graph theory-based methods to assess information flow and connectivity based on cortical thickness measures in 55 individuals with psychopathy and 47 normal controls. Compared with controls, the psychopathy group showed significantly altered interregional connectivity patterns. Furthermore, bilateral superior frontal cortices in the frontal network were identified as information flow control hubs in the psychopathy group in contrast to bilateral inferior frontal and medial orbitofrontal cortices as network hubs of the controls. Frontal information flow and connectivity may have a significant role in the neuropathology of psychopathy.
Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, 1721 Speyer Lane, Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, CA 90278, USA. yalingy@usc.edu
Yaling
Y
Yang
Adrian
A
Raine
Anand A
AA
Joshi
Shantanu
S
Joshi
Yu-Teng
YT
Chang
Robert A
RA
Schug
David
D
Wheland
Richard
R
Leahy
Katherine L
KL
Narr
D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology