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Psychopaths Share This Brain Trait, Scans Reveal
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Psychopaths have different brain structures to the rest of the population, a study has revealed, helping shed new light on one corner of the "dark personality" triad.
Diagnosis with psychopathy is recognized as one of the strongest indicators of persistent violent behavior.
Using advanced neuroimaging techniques and the publicly accessible Julich-Brain Atlas, researchers from institutions in Germany and the University of Pennsylvania have pinpointed brain networks that show structural alterations in people exhibiting psychopathic traits.
The study represents an important step in understanding the neurobiological base of aggression and antisocial behavior.
A man receives a brain scan.
A man receives a brain scan.
gorodenkoff/Getty Images
In their study, the research team examined MRI data on 39 adult male participants diagnosed with psychopathy and compared them with a group of control subjects. The study's findings revealed a notable link between antisocial tendencies and specific brain structures.
The researchers used a diagnostic tool called the Psychopathy Check-List and found that higher scores in the "lifestyle and antisocial behavior" category were associated with lower volumes in several brain areas. These lower volumes were found in widespread areas including the basal ganglia—which is involved in motor control and learning—and the thalamus, a "relay station" for sensory information.
Reductions were also seen in parts of the brainstem; the cerebellum, which is important for motor control and coordination; and other areas like the orbitofrontal and insular regions—both of which are crucial for emotion regulation, decision-making and social behavior.
This suggests that the parts of the brain involved in controlling behavior might not be working as well in people with psychopathy.
In contrast, the associations with traits that cover "interpersonal-affective" aspects like pathological lying and a lack of empathy were found to be less consistent.
Beyond these specific associations, group comparisons revealed a significant reduction in total brain volume in the psychopathy group compared to the control group.
The most localized and pronounced difference was observed in the right subiculum, a part of the hippocampus known for its role in memory. This suggests "a rather widespread disturbance of brain development in psychopathic subjects," according to the study's conclusions. The authors' findings ultimately suggest "a particularly strong neurobiological link between antisocial behavior and reduced brain volume across widespread regions."
Still, the researchers acknowledged certain limitations of the study, like the use of different MRI scanners across sites, which was accounted for statistically; and that not all groups were matched for cognitive capacity or substance use, which could influence comparisons.
Ultimately, the study marks a large advancement in understanding the neurobiological factors linked to aggression. Future research could explore questions such as whether these structural differences may be inherited or influenced by environmental factors.
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Reference
Pieperhoff, P., Hofhansel, L., Schneider, F., Müller, J., Amunts, K., Weber-Papen, S., Weidler, C., Clemens, B., Raine, A., & Habel, U. (2025). Associations of brain structure with psychopathy. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience.
