Neuroimaging May Reveal the Basis of Impulsivity

A developmental trajectory — involving the premotor cortex — that goes from childhood's impulsivity to adulthood's planned behaviors is aberrant in adolescent offenders.

Researchers using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have found aberrant cortical development in childhood-onset schizophrenia (JW Psychiatry Oct 18 2001) and in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; JW Psychiatry Jan 28 2008), but little is known about cortical development in adolescent offenders.

In this study, 107 incarcerated participants (mean age, 17) underwent resting-state functional connectivity MRI (RS-fcMRI), which assesses activity in the default mode network. Empathy and impulsivity were also measured. To locate brain regions on the RS-fcMRI scans that correlated with impulsivity ratings, the investigators used an iterative algorithm that individually investigated all potential areas. The algorithm identified functional …

Reviewing Author

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Barbara Geller, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose