Violent offenders respond to provocations with high amygdala and striatal reactivity

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

SN - 1749-5024

VL - 12

SP - 802

EP - 810

JO - Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience

JF - Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience

IS - 5

M1 - nsx006

ER -