THE PSYCHOPATHIC BRAIN AND MIND

The Abnormal Development of the Psychopathic Brain and Mind Compared to Normal Cognitive Function Ashley M. Karl Regis University

THE PSYCHOPATHIC BRAIN AND MIND

The Psychopathic Brain and Mind Compared to Normal Cognitive Function The study of psychopathy has been an ongoing process that analyzes the human brain on an age spectrum as well as a Nature vs Nurture spectrum. This paper explores the development of the human brain and mind in regards to psychopathy. It will discuss the patterns of normal cognitive ability and that of a psychopathic brain, while correlating and contrasting the relativity of the two. It examines the genetical development of psychopathy within a young child and adolescent brain as it simultaneously takes into account the varying environmental aspects in order to strengthen the understanding of the psychological process in what is considered a normal brain and an emphasis of this on the psychopathic brain. Children appear to be developing callous-unemotional traits and narcissistic attitudes at an early age, but research has proven that the variance in cognitive and behavioral functioning, mental health, and psychopathology in adulthood have been traced back to fetal development and growth (Walhovd, Fjell, Brown, Kuperman, Yoonho, Hagler, Roddey, Erhart, McCabe, Akshoomoff, Amaral, Bloss, Libiger, Schork, Darst, Casey, Chang, Ernst, Frazier, & Gruen, 2012). A study performed by Walhovd et al. (2012, p. 2) involving six hundred and twenty-eight children, adolescents, and young adults focused on the effects of normal variance in birth weight on MRI-derived measures of brain development in the large-scale multicenter Pediatric Imaging, Neurocognition, and Genetics study. This investigation provided a plethora of information that shed light on the correlation between the development of psychopathy and its stemming from insufficient fetal development. Walhovd et al. (2012) conducted the study on the topic of birth weight influencing cortical thickness, surface area, and striatal and total brain volumes, which is the control for variations in age, sex, household income, and genetic ancestry

THE PSYCHOPATHIC BRAIN AND MIND

elements. With these components in mind, the research began to prove itself and demonstrate vital, newfound evidence on the matter. The analysis of fetal development and its effects on the evolution of the brain displayed impressive results. Birth weight was found to exert vigorous positive effects on regional cortical surface area in a multitude of regions as well as total brain and caudate volumes (Walhovd et al., 2012). This remarkable discovery was especially influential in that, according to Walhovd et al. (2012, p. 5), these effects were continuous across birth weight ranges and ages and were not confined to subsets of the sample. There were two crucial outcomes to this examination that contribute to the understanding of the importance of fetal maturation and its role in cognitive expansion. The findings produced evidence that aspects of later child and adolescent brain development are influenced at birth and reasonably small differences in birth weight across groups and conditions typically compared in neuropsychiatric research, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, schizophrenia, and personality disorders, as well as other psychopathology with a distinguishable neural basis, may influence group differences observed in the brain parameters of interest at a larger stage in life (Walhovd et al., 2012). As if children are not kept under a keen eye as it is, this concrete analysis should serve as verification that early influences are immensely affective cognitively and behaviorally on children and adolescents. An article discussing genetic and neurocognitive contributions to the development of psychopathy states that recent evidence suggests that children with high levels of callous unemotional traits are genetically and neurocognitively vulnerable to developing psychopathic and antisocial behaviors, while existing research also distinctly indicates that environmental influences play a significant role (Viding & McCrory, 2012). Feilhauer and Cima (2013) argue

THE PSYCHOPATHIC BRAIN AND MIND

that research verifies the validity of the dimensional approach towards psychopathy amongst children and adults alike. As a result of this dimensional approach, groups of children that express callous-unemotional traits are studied cognitively and behaviorally, more specifically to find narcissistic and impulsive tendencies to assist in further understanding of psychopathy in children and the various profiles and subheadings that they could potentially be categorized into (Feilhauer & Cima, 2013). There is much explanation regarding intervention with children, which can interfere with continual psychopathic development into adolescence and adulthood. Feilhauer and Cima (2013) suggest that understanding differential correlates of the underlying dimensions of psychopathy is a crucial step in formulating interventions for those at high risk. While Viding and McCrory (2012) would agree that intervention is necessary, they suggest a more intricate theory involving the enhancement of positive parenting and an increase in parental involvement, as well as the application of consistent rewards that may represent more promising intervention approaches. It is apparent that intervention is highly significant, but it is certainly less effective to pursue an approach involving punishment-oriented or explicit empathy-isolation strategies as this allows the possibility of psychopathic advancements (Viding & McCrory, 2012). Although intervention is a highly recommended procedure when confronting a child with abnormal psychological brain development, it has been studied and suggested to use a child selfreport to obtain advanced cognitive information. van Baardewijk, Stegge, Andershed, Thomaes, Scholte, and Vermeiren (2008, p. 201) developed a downward extension of an existing adolescent self-report measure; the Youth Psychopathic traits Inventory--Child Version (YPICV). This test was performed on three hundred and sixty children from the general population

THE PSYCHOPATHIC BRAIN AND MIND

and had good internal consistency with a three factor structure quite like the original adolescent version (van Baardewijk et al., 2008). Much like the previous discussion of a dimensional approach, the YPI-CV follows a similar method and can perform self-reports on children ages nine to twelve efficiently and reliably, which allows progress in the study of psychopathic traits among children. Carr, Hyde, Neumann, Viding, and Hariri (2013) state that the latest studies argue that psychopathy may be linked to dysfunction patterns in the neural circuitry supporting both threatand reward-related processes. This theory has been researched in more detail in a study of two hundred young adults pertaining to the relation of threat-related amygdala reactivity and rewardrelated ventral striatum (VS) reactivity and variation in four features of self-reported psychopathy (Carr et al., 2013). Self-Reported Psychopathy Scale - III (SRP-III) consists of four facets that include callous-affect (CA), interpersonally manipulative (IPM), erratic life-style (ELS), and criminal tendencies (CT), and each component was found to enhance the statistical prognosis of physical aggression beyond age, gender, social desirability, and violent thoughts (Watt & Brooks, 2012). According to Carr et al.s (2013) research, amygdala reactivity to fearful facial expressions is negatively associated with the interpersonal feature of psychopathy whereas amygdala reactivity to irate facial expressions is positively associated with the lifestyle feature. This association of positive and negative feedback has an affect on VS reactivity as it is negatively associated with the lifestyle facet, thus creating differential associations between both threat- and reward-related neural processes and distinct dimensions of psychopathy, which then provides a defined comprehensive picture of the pattern of neural vulnerabilities that may

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predispose to maladaptive outcomes associated with psychopathy (Carr et al., 2013, p. 127). This study develops the idea that neural vulnerabilities are a predisposition to future unfavorable brain development resulting in the intensification of psychopathy. In order to gain further knowledge regarding the development of psychopathy in a child or adolescent brain, a study must be conducted on one group of subjects throughout a period of time. The research must begin at the earliest age permitted by the subjects parents and continue through adolescent-hood for the purpose of understanding the evolution of psychopathy in the brain. With the allotted amount of time ranging from months old to early teenage years, researchers should take full advantage of the tests and studies previously performed, such as the interventions, YPI-CV, and SRP-III, and apply them to each subject annually throughout the examination. Utilizing every individual test is ideal as they are all significantly relevant to the study and would provide impeccable dimensional insight. With these tactics and approaches at hand, psychopathy can be examined on a basis of impact to childrens cognitive, psychological, and physical brain, allowing innovative opportunities to comprehend and inhibit continual psychopathic development.

THE PSYCHOPATHIC BRAIN AND MIND

References Carr, J. M., Hyde, L. W., Neumann, C. S., Viding, E., & Hariri, A. R. (2013). The neural signatures of distinct psychopathic traits. Social Neuroscience, 8(2), 122-135. doi: 10.1080/17470919.2012.703623 Feilhauer, J., & Cima, M. (2013). Youth psychopathy: Differential correlates of callousunemotional traits, narcissism, and impulsivity. Forensic Science International, 224(1-3), 1-7. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.10.016 van Baardewijk, Y., Stegge, H., Andershed, H., Thomaes, S., Scholte, E., & Vermeiren, R. (2008). Measuring psychopathic traits in children through self-report. The development of the Youth Psychopathic traits InventoryChild Version. International Journal Of Law & Psychiatry, 31(3), 199-209. doi:10.1016/j.ijlp.2008.04.004 Viding, E., & McCrory, E. J. (2012). Genetic and neurocognitive contributions to the development of psychopathy. Development & Psychopathology, 24(3), 969-983. doi: 10.1017/S095457941200048X Walhovd, K. B., Fjell, A. M., Brown, T. T., Kuperman, J. M., Yoonho, C., Hagler, J. J., & ... Gruen, J. R. (2012). Long-term influence of normal variation in neonatal characteristics on human brain development. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America, 109(49), 20089-20094. doi:10.1073/pnas.1208180109 Watt, B. D., & Brooks, N. S. (2012). Self-Report Psychopathy in an Australian Community Sample. Psychiatry, Psychology & Law, 19(3), 389-401. doi: 10.1080/13218719.2011.585130