More structural brain abnormalities seen in psychopaths

Besides the uncinate fasciculus, a small white matter tract stretching from the amygdala to the orbiotfrontal cortex (see August 9, 2009 post and also Science Daily article Here) new research also show that psychopaths have deformations within the amygdala and an abnormal hippocampal shape. Concerning Raine, Yang et.al. latest research, Localization of deformations within the amygdala in individuals with psychopathy (Sep., 2009) Here showed  “Individuals with psychopathy showed significant bilateral volume reductions in the amygdala compared with controls (left, 17.1%; right, 18.9%). Surface deformations were localized in regions in the approximate vicinity of the basolateral, lateral, cortical, and central nuclei of the amygdala. Significant correlations were found between reduced amygdala volumes and increased total and facet psychopathy scores, with correlations strongest for the affective and interpersonal facets of psychopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Results provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, of focal amygdala abnormalities in psychopathic individuals and corroborate findings from previous lesion studies. Findings support prior hypotheses of amygdala deficits in individuals with psychopathy and indicate that amygdala abnormalities contribute to emotional and behavioral symptoms of psychopathy.”

In regard to the study; Abnormal hippocampal shape in offenders with psychopathy, (online Aug. 2009)  Here  Laakso et.al. found that although the offenders with psychopathy and the controls had similar hippocampal volume and asymmetry ratios, “local analysis showed that the high psychopathy group had a significant depression along the longitudinal hippocampal axis, on both the dorsal and ventral aspects, when compared with the healthy controls and the medium psychopathy group.”  Moreover, “The opposite comparison revealed abnormal enlargement of the lateral borders in both the right and left hippocampi of both high and medium psychopathy groups versus controls, throughout CA1, CA2-3 and the subicular regions. These enlargement and reduction effects survived statistical correction for multiple comparisons in the main contrast (26 offenders vs. 25 controls) and in most subgroup comparisons. A statistical check excluded a possible confounding effect from amphetamine and polysubstance abuse. These results indicate that habitually violent offenders exhibit a specific abnormal hippocampal morphology, in the absence of total gray matter volume changes, that may relate to different autonomic modulation and abnormal fear-conditioning.”

Also of interest;

Structural brain abnormalities in psychopaths-a review. (March, 2008)  Here 
Functional neuroanatomy of psychopathy. (2008) Here
Brain Scans Show Abnormalities In Psychopaths (March, 2004) Here