ABSTRACT
Although the neural basis of psychopathy has not been fully disseminated, the current body of evidence suggests there are impairments in cognitive, affective, and reward regions of the brain. Increased striatal volume and function may reflect the heightened reward sensitivity exhibited by psychopaths. The decreased volume and function of the amygdala may be related to their blunted emotional experience and impaired fear conditioning. The reduced volume and function of the prefrontal cortex, particularly in the VMPFC/OFC, could contribute to their poor decision-making. Altogether, the fronto-amygdala-striatal impairments observed in psychopathic individuals align with their disinhibited, reward-driven, and callous–unemotional behavior.
