title: Frontal and striatal alterations associated with psychopathic traits in adolescents.
abstract: Neuroimaging research has demonstrated a range of structural deficits in adults with psychopathy, but little is known about structural correlates of psychopathic tendencies in adolescents. Here we examined structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) data obtained from 14-year-old adolescents (n=108) using tensor-based morphometry (TBM) to isolate global and localized differences in brain tissue volumes associated with psychopathic traits in this otherwise healthy developmental population. We found that greater levels of psychopathic traits were correlated with increased brain tissue volumes in the left putamen, left ansa peduncularis, right superiomedial prefrontal cortex, left inferior frontal cortex, right orbitofrontal cortex, and right medial temporal regions and reduced brain tissues volumes in the right middle frontal cortex, left superior parietal lobule, and left inferior parietal lobule. Post hoc analyses of parcellated regional volumes also showed putamen enlargements to correlate with increased psychopathic traits. Consistent with earlier studies, findings suggest poor decision-making and emotional dysregulation associated with psychopathy may be due, in part, to structural anomalies in frontal and temporal regions whereas striatal structural variations may contribute to sensation-seeking and reward-driven behavior in psychopathic individuals. Future studies will help clarify how disturbances in brain maturational processes might lead to the developmental trajectory from psychopathic tendencies in adolescents to adult psychopathy.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, 4650 Sunset Blvd, Smith Research Tower Room 400B, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. Electronic address: yayang@chla.usc.edu.
authors: Yaling
authors: Y
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Katherine L
authors: KL
authors: Narr
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Laura A
authors: LA
authors: Baker
authors: Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Shantanu H
authors: SH
authors: Joshi
authors: Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Neda
authors: N
authors: Jahanshad
authors: Departments of Criminology, Psychiatry, and Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors: Adrian
authors: A
authors: Raine
authors: Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Paul M
authors: PM
authors: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D011699:Putamen / Q000473:pathology*; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Developmental; MRI; Putamen; Tensor-based morphometry