Mesolimbic dopamine reward system hypersensitivity in individuals with psychopathic traits

Joshua W. Buckholtz; Michael T. Treadway; Ronald L. Cowan; Neil D. Woodward; Stephen D. Benning; Rui Li; M. Sib Ansari; Ronald M. Baldwin; Ashley N. Schwartzman; Evan S. Shelby; Clarence E. Smith; David Cole; Robert M. Kessler; David H. Zald

doi:10.1038/nn.2510

Mesolimbic dopamine reward system hypersensitivity in individuals with psychopathic traits

Joshua W. Buckholtz
, Michael T. Treadway
, Ronald L. Cowan
, Neil D. Woodward
, Stephen D. Benning
, Rui Li
, M. Sib Ansari
, Ronald M. Baldwin
, Ashley N. Schwartzman
, Evan S. Shelby
, Clarence E. Smith
, David Cole
, Robert M. Kessler
, David H. Zald

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

318 Scopus citations

Abstract

Psychopathy is a personality disorder that is strongly linked to criminal behavior. Using [18 F]fallypride positron emission tomography and blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging, we found that impulsive-antisocial psychopathic traits selectively predicted nucleus accumbens dopamine release and reward anticipation-related neural activity in response to pharmacological and monetary reinforcers, respectively. These findings suggest that neurochemical and neurophysiological hyper-reactivity of the dopaminergic reward system may comprise a neural substrate for impulsive-antisocial behavior and substance abuse in psychopathy.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	419-421
Number of pages	3
Journal	Nature neuroscience
Volume	13
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2510
State	Published - Apr 2010
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Neuroscience

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10.1038/nn.2510

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Buckholtz, J. W., Treadway, M. T., Cowan, R. L., Woodward, N. D., Benning, S. D., Li, R., Ansari, M. S., Baldwin, R. M., Schwartzman, A. N., Shelby, E. S., Smith, C. E., Cole, D., Kessler, R. M., & Zald, D. H. (2010). Mesolimbic dopamine reward system hypersensitivity in individuals with psychopathic traits. Nature neuroscience, 13(4), 419-421. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2510

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title = "Mesolimbic dopamine reward system hypersensitivity in individuals with psychopathic traits",

abstract = "Psychopathy is a personality disorder that is strongly linked to criminal behavior. Using [18 F]fallypride positron emission tomography and blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging, we found that impulsive-antisocial psychopathic traits selectively predicted nucleus accumbens dopamine release and reward anticipation-related neural activity in response to pharmacological and monetary reinforcers, respectively. These findings suggest that neurochemical and neurophysiological hyper-reactivity of the dopaminergic reward system may comprise a neural substrate for impulsive-antisocial behavior and substance abuse in psychopathy.",

author = "Buckholtz, \{Joshua W.\} and Treadway, \{Michael T.\} and Cowan, \{Ronald L.\} and Woodward, \{Neil D.\} and Benning, \{Stephen D.\} and Rui Li and Ansari, \{M. Sib\} and Baldwin, \{Ronald M.\} and Schwartzman, \{Ashley N.\} and Shelby, \{Evan S.\} and Smith, \{Clarence E.\} and David Cole and Kessler, \{Robert M.\} and Zald, \{David H.\}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank B. Knutson for kindly making the monetary incentive delay task available and C. Weiner and M. McHugo for assistance with fMRI scanning and data analysis. This research was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA019670-04).",

year = "2010",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1038/nn.2510",

language = "American English",

volume = "13",

pages = "419--421",

journal = "Nature neuroscience",

issn = "1097-6256",

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T1 - Mesolimbic dopamine reward system hypersensitivity in individuals with psychopathic traits

AU - Buckholtz, Joshua W.

AU - Treadway, Michael T.

AU - Cowan, Ronald L.

AU - Woodward, Neil D.

AU - Benning, Stephen D.

AU - Li, Rui

AU - Ansari, M. Sib

AU - Baldwin, Ronald M.

AU - Schwartzman, Ashley N.

AU - Shelby, Evan S.

AU - Smith, Clarence E.

AU - Cole, David

AU - Kessler, Robert M.

AU - Zald, David H.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank B. Knutson for kindly making the monetary incentive delay task available and C. Weiner and M. McHugo for assistance with fMRI scanning and data analysis. This research was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA019670-04).

PY - 2010/4

Y1 - 2010/4

N2 - Psychopathy is a personality disorder that is strongly linked to criminal behavior. Using [18 F]fallypride positron emission tomography and blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging, we found that impulsive-antisocial psychopathic traits selectively predicted nucleus accumbens dopamine release and reward anticipation-related neural activity in response to pharmacological and monetary reinforcers, respectively. These findings suggest that neurochemical and neurophysiological hyper-reactivity of the dopaminergic reward system may comprise a neural substrate for impulsive-antisocial behavior and substance abuse in psychopathy.

AB - Psychopathy is a personality disorder that is strongly linked to criminal behavior. Using [18 F]fallypride positron emission tomography and blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging, we found that impulsive-antisocial psychopathic traits selectively predicted nucleus accumbens dopamine release and reward anticipation-related neural activity in response to pharmacological and monetary reinforcers, respectively. These findings suggest that neurochemical and neurophysiological hyper-reactivity of the dopaminergic reward system may comprise a neural substrate for impulsive-antisocial behavior and substance abuse in psychopathy.

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UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/77950187595#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1038/nn.2510

DO - 10.1038/nn.2510

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SP - 419

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JO - Nature neuroscience

JF - Nature neuroscience

IS - 4

ER -

Mesolimbic dopamine reward system hypersensitivity in individuals with psychopathic traits

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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