About this Research Topic
Psychopathy is a major social and public health problem worldwide. In addition to persistent offending and criminal behavior, psychopathy is associated with the destruction of interpersonal relationships and inter-generational transmission of antisocial behaviors. Despite critical advances in our understanding of the phenomenology of the disorder, knowledge of the neurobiological substrates of psychopathy lags far behind research into other psychological and psychiatric conditions. Neurobiologically-informed research of psychopathy is a crucial first step to development of effective prevention and intervention strategies, which, at present, are sorely lacking.
We aim to create a collection of articles that advance our understanding of the neurobiology of psychopathy. In terms of magnetic resonance imaging neuroimaging findings, changes in the content of gray matter, changes in the content of white matter, changes in the structure of white matter pathways, brain functional connectivity, brain response to emotional stimuli, and brain response during moral challenges have all been described in adult psychopathy. Similarly, low monoamine oxidase-A distribution volume measured using positron emission tomography has also been identified as an endophenotype of antisocial personality disorder with high psychopathic traits. Furthermore, investigations probing cortisol reactivity to stress have shown consistent results for children with disruptive behavior disorders and adults with psychopathy. However, linkages between psychopathy, trauma, and cortisol merit further investigation. Integration of findings from disparate disciplines is necessary to translate data to key prevention and treatment strategies.
Articles that create advances in our understanding of genetic risk factors, hormonal alterations, neuroimaging data on brain structure and function, and all other areas of neuroscience are particularly welcome. Articles that focus on antisocial personality disorder, conduct disorder, and callous unemotional traits in clinical samples are highly appropriate. Studies that probe both clinical and non-clinical samples (e.g., psychopathic traits in the general population) are expected. All authors working on these research topics and in these fields are encouraged to submit a contribution. Original articles, brief reports, review articles, and commentaries are all welcome.
We aim to create a collection of articles that advance our understanding of the neurobiology of psychopathy. In terms of magnetic resonance imaging neuroimaging findings, changes in the content of gray matter, changes in the content of white matter, changes in the structure of white matter pathways, brain functional connectivity, brain response to emotional stimuli, and brain response during moral challenges have all been described in adult psychopathy. Similarly, low monoamine oxidase-A distribution volume measured using positron emission tomography has also been identified as an endophenotype of antisocial personality disorder with high psychopathic traits. Furthermore, investigations probing cortisol reactivity to stress have shown consistent results for children with disruptive behavior disorders and adults with psychopathy. However, linkages between psychopathy, trauma, and cortisol merit further investigation. Integration of findings from disparate disciplines is necessary to translate data to key prevention and treatment strategies.
Articles that create advances in our understanding of genetic risk factors, hormonal alterations, neuroimaging data on brain structure and function, and all other areas of neuroscience are particularly welcome. Articles that focus on antisocial personality disorder, conduct disorder, and callous unemotional traits in clinical samples are highly appropriate. Studies that probe both clinical and non-clinical samples (e.g., psychopathic traits in the general population) are expected. All authors working on these research topics and in these fields are encouraged to submit a contribution. Original articles, brief reports, review articles, and commentaries are all welcome.
Keywords: Psychopathy, Conduct disorder, Disruptive behavior disorders, Callous unemotional traits, Antisocial personality disorder, Neuroscience
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
