The proposed study aims: (a) to further test the existence of a link between psychopathy and frontal lobe functional impairments; (b) to replicate and extend prior findings (Ishikawa, Raine, Lencz, Bihrle, & Lacasse, 2001) and determine if frontal dysfunction is specific to unsuccessful versus successful psychopaths; (c) to determine if neuropsychological impairments are specific to a sub-region of the prefrontal cortex in psychopaths, and in unsuccessful versus successful psychopaths; and (d) to determine if these neuropsychological impairments coincide with impairments in autonomic functioning as measured by skin conductance and heart rate activity. Neuropsychological measures (including purported orbitofrontal and dorsolateral prefrontal measures), psychophysiological measures (i.e., skin conductance and heart rate), and Hare's Psychopathy Checklist-Revised will be administered to a community sample. Criminal records will be verified, and unsuccessful psychopaths (i.e., with conviction histories) will be compared to successful psychopaths (i.e., without criminal histories) and non-psychopathic controls on these neuropsychological and psychophysiological variables in order to better understand the etiological underpinnings of psychopathy. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31MH074167-03
Application #
7426291
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F12A-H (20))
Program Officer
Rubio, Mercedes
Project Start
2006-06-01
Project End
2009-07-31
Budget Start
2008-06-01
Budget End
2009-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$50,562
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Southern California
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
072933393
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90089
Schug, Robert A; Yang, Yaling; Raine, Adrian et al. (2011) Resting EEG deficits in accused murderers with schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 194:85-94
Schug, Robert A; Yang, Yaling; Raine, Adrian et al. (2010) Structural and psychosocial correlates of birth order anomalies in schizophrenia and homicide. J Nerv Ment Dis 198:870-5