Citation

Leutgeb V, Wabnegger A, Leitner M, Zussner T, Scharmüller W, Klug D, Schienle A. Neurosci. Lett. 2015; 610: 160-164.

Affiliation

Clinical Psychology, University of Graz, BioTechMedGraz Postal address: Universitätsplatz 2/DG, 8010, Graz, Austria.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.neulet.2015.10.063

PMID

26523791

Abstract

It has repeatedly been reported, that there are differences in grey matter volume (GMV) between violent offenders and non-violent controls. However, it remains unclear, if structural brain abnormalities influence resting-state functional connectivity (RS-fc) between brain regions. Therefore, in the present investigation, 31 male high-risk violent prisoners were compared to 30 non-criminal controls with respect to RS-fc between brain areas. Seed regions for resting-state analysis were selected based on GMV differences between the two groups. Overall, inmates had more GMV in the cerebellum than controls and revealed higher RS-fc between the cerebellum and the amygdala. In contrast, controls relative to prisoners showed higher RS-fc between the cerebellum and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). In addition, controls showed more GMV in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Inmates relative to controls had higher RS-fc within the DLPFC.

RESULTS are discussed with respect to cerebellar contributions to a brain network underlying moral behavior and violence. Enhanced cerebellar-amygdala connectivity in violent offenders might reflect alterations in the processing of moral emotions. Heightened functional connectivity between cerebellar hemispheres and the OFC in controls could be a correlate of enhanced emotion regulation capacities. Higher functional intra-DLPFC connectivity in violent offenders might represent an effort to regulate emotions.

Language: en