Violent offenders respond to provocations with high amygdala and striatal reactivity
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Violent offenders respond to provocations with high amygdala and striatal reactivity. / da Cunha-Bang, Sofi; Fisher, Patrick M.; Hjordt, Liv Vadskjær; Perfalk, Erik; Skibsted, Anine Persson; Bock, Camilla; Baandrup, Anders Ohlhues; Deen, Marie; Thomsen, Carsten; Sestoft, Dorte M.; Knudsen, Gitte M.
In: Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Vol. 12, No. 5, nsx006, 01.05.2017, p. 802-810.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Violent offenders respond to provocations with high amygdala and striatal reactivity
AU - da Cunha-Bang, Sofi
AU - Fisher, Patrick M.
AU - Hjordt, Liv Vadskjær
AU - Perfalk, Erik
AU - Skibsted, Anine Persson
AU - Bock, Camilla
AU - Baandrup, Anders Ohlhues
AU - Deen, Marie
AU - Thomsen, Carsten
AU - Sestoft, Dorte M.
AU - Knudsen, Gitte M.
PY - 2017/5/1
Y1 - 2017/5/1
N2 - The ability to successfully suppress impulses and angry affect is fundamental to control aggressive reactions following provocations. The aim of this study was to examine neural responses to provocations and aggression using a laboratory model of reactive aggression. We used a novel functional magnetic resonance imaging point-subtraction aggression paradigm in 44 men, of whom 18 were incarcerated violent offenders and 26 were control non-offenders. We measured brain activation following provocations (monetary subtractions), while the subjects had the possibility to behave aggressively or pursue monetary rewards. The violent offenders behaved more aggressively than controls (aggression frequency 150 us 84, P = 0.03) and showed significantly higher brain reactivity to provocations within the amygdala and striatum, as well as reduced amygdala-prefrontal and striato-prefrontal connectivity. Amygdala reactivity to provocations was positively correlated with task-related behavior in the violent offenders. Across groups, striatal and prefrontal reactivity to provocations was positively associated with trait anger and trait aggression. These results suggest that violent individuals display abnormally high neural sensitivity to social provocations, a sensitivity related to aggressive behavior. These findings provide novel insight into the neural pathways that are sensitive to provocations, which is critical to more effectively shaped interventions that aim to reduce pathological aggressive behavior.
AB - The ability to successfully suppress impulses and angry affect is fundamental to control aggressive reactions following provocations. The aim of this study was to examine neural responses to provocations and aggression using a laboratory model of reactive aggression. We used a novel functional magnetic resonance imaging point-subtraction aggression paradigm in 44 men, of whom 18 were incarcerated violent offenders and 26 were control non-offenders. We measured brain activation following provocations (monetary subtractions), while the subjects had the possibility to behave aggressively or pursue monetary rewards. The violent offenders behaved more aggressively than controls (aggression frequency 150 us 84, P = 0.03) and showed significantly higher brain reactivity to provocations within the amygdala and striatum, as well as reduced amygdala-prefrontal and striato-prefrontal connectivity. Amygdala reactivity to provocations was positively correlated with task-related behavior in the violent offenders. Across groups, striatal and prefrontal reactivity to provocations was positively associated with trait anger and trait aggression. These results suggest that violent individuals display abnormally high neural sensitivity to social provocations, a sensitivity related to aggressive behavior. These findings provide novel insight into the neural pathways that are sensitive to provocations, which is critical to more effectively shaped interventions that aim to reduce pathological aggressive behavior.
KW - Aggression
KW - Connectivity
KW - FMRI
KW - Point subtraction aggression paradigm
KW - PSAP
KW - Psychopathy
U2 - 10.1093/scan/nsx006
DO - 10.1093/scan/nsx006
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 28338916
AN - SCOPUS:85021358651
VL - 12
SP - 802
EP - 810
JO - Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
JF - Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
SN - 1749-5024
IS - 5
M1 - nsx006
ER -
ID: 189349163