The modulation of somatosensory resonance by psychopathic traits and empathy

A large number of neuroimaging studies have shown neural overlaps between first-hand experiences of pain and the perception of pain in others. This shared neural representation of vicarious pain is thought to involve both affective and sensorimotor systems. A number of individual factors are thought to modulate the cerebral response to other's pain. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of psychopathic traits on the relation between sensorimotor resonance to other's pain and self-reported empathy. Our group has previously shown that a steady-state response to non-painful stimulation is modulated by the observation of other people's bodily pain. This change in somatosensory response was interpreted as a form of somatosensory gating (SG). Here, using the same technique, SG was compared between two groups of 15 young adult males: one scoring very high on a self-reported measure of psychopathic traits [60.8 ± 4.98; Levenson's Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP)] and one scoring very low (42.7 ± 2.94). The results showed a significantly greater reduction of SG to pain observation for the high psychopathic traits group compared to the low psychopathic traits group. SG to pain observation was positively correlated with affective and interpersonal facet of psychopathy in the whole sample. The high psychopathic traits group also reported lower empathic concern (EC) scores than the low psychopathic traits group. Importantly, primary psychopathy, as assessed by the LSRP, mediated the relation between EC and SG to pain observation. Together, these results suggest that increase somatosensory resonance to other's pain is not exclusively explained by trait empathy and may be linked to other personality dimensions, such as psychopathic traits

Ralentissement cognitif dans la dépression majeure

Selon Widlöcher, le ralentissement psychomoteur (RP) se situe au coeur de la symptomatologie dépressive; il affecterait l'activité autant sur le plan moteur que verbal et mental. Le RP pourrait être étroitement lié aux perturbations cognitives associées à la dépression majeure. La présente étude teste l'hypothèse d'un ralentissement cognitif dans la dépression majeure à l'aide du paradigme de Stroop dans une version informatisée. Dix huit patients déprimés et 14 sujets en bonne santé subissent des épreuves verbales et non-verbales de type Stroop. Les résultats aux 2 épreuves suggèrent la présence d'un ralentissement de la pose de l'inhibition, d'une application graduelle de cette inhibition et d'un ralentissement de la levée de l'inhibition. Cette étude appuie donc l'hypothèse d'un ralentissement cognitif chez les patients souffrant de dépression majeure

Hétérogénéité des troubles de l'attention associés aux états dépressifs

Un trouble de l'attention se trouverait au cœur des perturbations cognitives des déprimés mais la nature exacte de ce trouble reste méconnue. Cette thèse, qui comporte quatre études, utilise trois niveaux d'analyse (cognitif, clinique, neuropharmacologique) afin de préciser la nature des troubles de l'attention associés aux états dépressifs. Des déprimés non traités réalisent des épreuves attentionnelles informatisées. La distribution de leurs temps de réaction est analysée suivant le modèle Poisson-Erlang. Ces déprimés participent aussi à un test pharmacologique en aigu à l'aide du méthylphénidate. Ces études rassemblent plusieurs arguments en faveur de l'hétérogénéité des perturbations de l'attention des déprimés. Une réduction des ressources attentionnelles est mise en évidence chez un sous-groupe de déprimés caractérisés par un ralentissement psychomoteur net. Chez les autres déprimés, les résultats suggèrent plutôt un trouble de l'inhibition des distracteurs. Une stimulation des systèmes catécholaminergiques par le méthylphénidate atténue le ralentissement psychomoteur des déprimés mais n'améliore pas leur déficit des ressources

Intérêt clinique d’une conception neuroscientifique du trouble de personnalité limite : dysfonctionnements du système exécutif et de la théorie de l’esprit

Le trouble de personnalité limite (TPL) est un problème psychopathologique complexe et les données récentes issues des neurosciences permettent une compréhension plus précise des bases neurobiologiques de ses manifestations. Cet article vise à étayer la proposition que le TPL dépend en partie d’un dysfonctionnement frontal et exécutif qui perturbe les mécanismes nécessaires au fonctionnement optimal des inférences propres à l’utilisation d’une « théorie de l’esprit ». Pour soutenir ce propos, quatre ensembles d’observations sont examinés : les parallèles entre la personnalité dite frontale et le TPL, la présence de déficits cognitifs de type frontal chez le TPL, les conséquences sur le développement cérébral d’une enfance marquée par l’abus et la négligence et enfin, les résultats des études d’imagerie cérébrale. Cet article s’inscrit dans un courant de pensée qui vise l’intégration de la perspective neuroscientifique du TPL aux conceptualisations psychopathologiques actuelles. L’objectif étant d’offrir une conceptualisation du TPL qui évite la traditionnelle dichotomie esprit/cerveau, psychologie/biologie et de dégager des points de convergence entre la psychologie clinique et la neurobiologie.Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex psychopathology. Through recent developments, neuroscience is able to contribute to better understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of BPD manifestations. This article aims to demonstrate that BPD is in part due to executive and frontal dysregulation of the mechanisms responsible for the optimal functioning of inferences specific to theory of mind. To do so, four types of observations will be examined: parallels between frontal personality and BPD, the presence of frontal cognitive deficits in BPD, the consequences of childhood abuse and neglect on brain development and finally, the results of brain imagery in BPD. This article follows in the path of a growing interest in the integration of the neuroscientific perspective of BPD to current conceptualisations in psychopathology. The final aim is to try to offer an understanding of BPD manifestations that avoids the traditional splitting between mind and brain—psychology and biology—and to show the numerous associations between clinical psychology and neurobiology.El trastorno de la personalidad límite (TPL) es un problema psicopatológico complejo. Los datos recientes provenientes de las neurociencias permiten una comprensión más precisa de las bases neurobiológicas de sus manifestaciones. Este artículo busca apoyar la proposición de que el TPL depende en parte de una disfunción frontal y ejecutiva que perturba los mecanismos necesarios para el funcionamiento óptimo de las inferencias propias a la utilización de una “teoría de la mente”. Para sostener esta propuesta, se examinan cuatro grupos de observaciones: los paralelos entre la personalidad frontal y el TPL, la presencia de déficits cognitivos de tipo frontal en el TPL, las consecuencias en el desarrollo cerebral de una infancia marcada por el abuso y la negligencia y, por último, los resultados de los estudios de neuroimágenes. Este artículo se inscribe en una corriente de pensamiento que busca la integración de la perspectiva neurocientífica del TPL a las conceptualizaciones psicopatológicas actuales. El objetivo es ofrecer una conceptualización del TPL que evite la dicotomía tradicional mente/cerebro, psicología/biología, y destacar los puntos de convergencia entre la psicología clínica y la neurobiología.O Transtorno de Personalidade Limite (TPL) é um problema psicopatológico complexo, e os dados recentes vindos das neurociências permitem uma compreensão mais precisa das bases neurobiológicas de suas manifestações. Este artigo visa apoiar a proposta de que o TPL depende em parte de um distúrbio frontal e executivo que perturba os mecanismos necessários ao funcionamento ideal das inferências próprias à utilização de uma “teoria do espírito”. Para confirmar esta proposta, quatro grupos de observações são examinados: os paralelos entre a personalidade dita frontal e o TPL, a presença de déficits cognitivos de tipo frontal nas pessoas que sofrem de TPL, as consequências sobre o desenvolvimento cerebral de uma infância marcada pelo abuso e pela negligência e, finalmente, os resultados dos estudos de imagens cerebrais. Este artigo inscreve-se em uma corrente de pensamento que visa a integração da perspectiva neurocientífica do TPL às conceitualizações psicopatológicas atuais. O objetivo é oferecer uma conceitualização do TPL que evita a tradicional dicotomia espírito/cérebro, psicologia/ biologia, e ressaltar pontos de convergência entre a psicologia clínica e a neurobiologia

Feeling but not caring : empathic alteration in narcissistic men with high psychopathic traits

Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by specific interpersonal-affective deficits and social deviance often marked by reduced empathy and decreased affective response to the suffering of others. However, recent findings in community samples suggest that the somatosensory resonance to other's pain measured with electroencephalography (EEG) is increased by psychopathic traits. This study aimed at comparing both the response to physical pain and the observation of pain being inflicted to another person in individuals with clinically significant psychopathic traits, namely patients with severe narcissistic personality disorder (NPD, n=11), and community controls (CC, n=13). The gating of somatosensory responses to a tactile steady-state stimulation (25 Hz) during the observation of pain-evoking and non-painful visual stimuli of hands was measured using EEG. Pain thresholds were assessed with a quantitative sensory testing (QST) battery. NPD compared with CC subjects showed similar thermal pain thresholds, but significantly higher pain pressure thresholds (PPT). Significantly greater somatosensory gating (SG) during the anticipation and the observation of pain in others was observed in NPD compared with CC subjects, but this difference was not associated with differences in self-pain perception. SG to pain observation was positively correlated with the Impulsivity-Egocentricity (IE) dimension of psychopathy. These findings demonstrated a stronger somatosensory resonance in the high psychopathic trait NPD group that suggests an increased somatic representation of observed pain despite lower dispositional empathy

Early developmental trajectories of number knowledge and math achievement from 4 to 10 years: Low-persistent profile and early-life predictors

Little is known about the development of number knowledge (NK) and the antecedents of low-persistent NK profiles in early childhood. We documented the developmental trajectories of NK across the transition from preschool to elementary school, their predictive validity with respect to later math achievement, and the child and family early-life factors associated with low NK profiles. Children's NK was assessed four times at regular intervals between the ages 4 and 7 years in a large, representative population-based sample. Developmental trajectories of NK were established for 1597 children. These children were also assessed with respect to several features of their family environment at 5, 17, and 29 months, as well as their cognitive skills at age 41 months. Analyses revealed a best-fitting 4-trajectory model, characterized by Low-Increasing (10% of the children), Moderate-Increasing (39%), Moderate-Fast Increasing (32%) and High-Increasing (19%) groups. Children of these trajectory groups differed significantly with respect to math achievement at ages 8 and 10 years, with the Low-Increasing group persistently scoring lower than the other groups throughout these years. Children of Low-Increasing NK group were from household of lower income and father with low educational background, poorer early cognitive development, and more importantly, reduced visual-spatial skills and memory-span. Children displaying reduced cognitive abilities and impoverished living conditions early in life are at greater risk of low NK throughout late preschool and school entry, with ensuing difficulties in math achievement. They deserve early preventive attention to help alleviate later mathematic difficulties