Mesocorticolimbic dopamine functioning in primary psychopathy: A source of within-group heterogeneity.
Despite similar emotional deficiencies, primary psychopathic individuals can be situated on a continuum that spans from controlled to disinhibited. The constructs on which primary psychopaths are found to diverge, such as self-control, cognitive flexibility, and executive functioning, are crucially regulated by dopamine (DA). As such, the goal of this review is to examine which specific alterations in the meso-cortico-limbic DA system and corresponding genes (e.g., TH, DAT, COMT, DRD2, DRD4) might bias development towards a more controlled or disinhibited expression of primary psychopathy. Based on empirical data, it is argued that primary psychopathy is generally related to a higher tonic and population activity of striatal DA neurons and lower levels of D2-type DA receptors in meso-cortico-limbic projections, which may boost motivational drive towards incentive-laden goals, dampen punishment sensitivity, and increase future reward-expectancy. However, increasingly higher levels of DA activity in the striatum (moderate versus pathological elevations), lower levels of DA functionality in the prefrontal cortex, and higher D1-to-D2-type receptor ratios in meso-cortico-limbic projections may lead to increasingly disinhibited and impetuous phenotypes of primary psychopathy. Finally, in order to provide a more coherent view on etiological mechanisms, we discuss interactions between DA and serotonin that are relevant for primary psychopathy.
Department of Clinical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen, De Kluyskamp 1002, 6545 JD Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: onur.yildirim@live.nl.
Bariş O
BO
Yildirim
Department of Clinical Psychology, Room: A.07.04B, Radboud University Nijmegen, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.derksen@psych.ru.nl.
Jan J L
JJ
Derksen
D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D056344:Executive Function; D006801:Humans; D008032:Limbic System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009042:Motivation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012201:Reward; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine
Amygdala; Executive functioning; Impulsivity; Prefrontal cortex; Risk-taking; Self-control; Striatum