Psychobiological Mechanisms of Behavioral Dysregulation

该项目调查了可能导致极端行为障碍的情感缺陷;高水平的工具性反社会行为，加上缺乏表达的内疚/悔恨。目前，有两个主要的立场，关于神经系统功能障碍，在这样的人：第一，病理与杏仁核功能障碍;第二，病理与眶额叶皮质功能障碍。确定他们情绪功能障碍的神经生物学基础是至关重要的，因为情绪功能障碍的水平是长期预后的重要预测因素。 目前的项目确定了极端行为障碍的个人和比较个人的杏仁核和眶额叶皮层的措施的表现。此外，一系列功能性神经成像研究将直接评估这些个体这两个系统的神经反应。最后，结构成像研究将检查各组之间的解剖差异。该项目应提供明确的数据，将限制未来的理论对这种疾病的病理牵连。

This project investigates the emotional deficits that can give rise to extreme behavioral disturbance; high levels of instrumental antisocial behavior coupled with an absence of expressed guilt/ remorse. Currently, there are two main positions regarding the neural systems that are dysfunctional in such individuals: First, that the pathology is associated with amygdala dysfunction; Secondly, that the pathology is associated with orbital frontal cortex dysfunction. Identification of the neuro-biological underpinnings of their emotional dysfunction is of crucial importance as the level of emotion dysfunction is an important predictor of long term prognosis. The current project determines the performance of individuals with extreme behavioral disturbance and comparison individuals on measures which recruit the amygdala and orbital frontal cortex. In addition, a series of functional neuro-imaging studies will directly assess neural responses in these two systems in these individuals. Finally, a structural imaging study will examine anatomical differences between the groups. The project should provide clear data that will constrain future theorizing on the pathology implicated in this disorder.