Evidence for a Heritable Brain Basis to Deviance-Promoting Deficits in Self-Control

• NCJ Number: 243867
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 41 Issue: 5 Dated: September - October 2013 Pages: 309-317
• Author(s): James R. Yancey; Noah C. Venables; Brian M. Hicks; Christopher J. Patrick
• Date Published: October 2013
• Length: 9 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH65137; MH072850; MH089727
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the role of self-control capacity in mediating the relationship between P300 brain response and behavioral deviancy in a sample of adult twins (n = 419) who were assessed for symptoms of antisocial/addictive disorder and P300 brain response.

Abstract

The findings of this study indicate that symptoms of antisocial behavior and substance use disorders strongly overlap with those for trait (genetic) disinhibition, which is in turn connected to a second genetic factor that influences P300 amplitude. These findings replicate and extend previous research that found a common vulnerability underlying antisocial/addictive disorders (Krueger et al., 2002; Young et al., 2000) and that reduced P300 response is a neurophysiological indicator of this common vulnerability. These findings suggest that reduced P300 response is a neural indicator of deficient self-control and that the P300 amplitude stems from a genetically derived brain feature. Trait disinhibition was measured with a 100-item version of the Externalizing Spectrum Inventory. Physiological measurement and data reduction are described for the measurement of P300 amplitude. 3 table, 3 figures, and 64 references