Affect and Cognition in Psychopathy

Question 1

Explain the mirror neuron theory of empathy.

Answer 1

the inferior frontal cortex and posterior parietal cortex are activated the same way when observing or carrying out an action.

• passive observation of an emotion or internally asked to generate the emotion.
• similar network of brain areas was activated.

Question 2

What are the problems with the mirror neuron perspective of empathy?

Answer 2

1. difficulty estimating the similarity of brain networks
2. overlap due to watching face stimuli across conditions?
3. findings not replicated
4. brain activity also found outside of these systems
5. fallacy in emotional congruence hypothesis

Question 3

Explain the mirror neuron analogy of empathy.

Answer 3

no perception-based system but a specific mirror neuron system for emotional expression.

similar activation in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (DACC).

1. does not explain empathy without observation
2. emotional ingruences
   role of appraisal appears important!

Question 4

Explain the emotional response theory of empathy.

Answer 4

empathy is a form of emotional reaction.

• response is modulated by CASAUL REASONING and EXPERIENCE of the observer
• emotional responses are REINFORCERS that modulate behaviour

Question 5

Explain the meta-analysis of BOLD responses.

Answer 5

• different activation for fear, disgust, anger and happiness
• partly separable from neural responses
• emotional expressions are reinforcers with different communication functions

amygdala: fear-based conditioning
insula: taste aversion
inferior frontal cortex: response reversal

Question 6

Explain the view on psychopathy and empathy impairments.

Answer 6

1. evidence for impairment in expression and processing: emotion recognition scores, skin conductance and BOLD
2. evidence of generalized impairment: assumed by unitary models but no evidence for it.
3. impairments in the recognition of fear and sadness but not happiness, anger or disgust.

impairments for psychopathy appear to be selective.

Question 7

Explain the response modulation model of psychopathy.

Answer 7

cognitive-attention deficit impairs inhibition of behaviour and reflection on consequences

• deficits in passive avoidance learning
• decreased physiological anticipatory responses to aversive stimuli [ANTICIPATION]
• impaired ability for delayed gratification

Question 8

Explain the testing of the response modulation model.

Answer 8

1. Newman & Kosson: go/ no-go passive avoidance task

2. Newman et al.,: card playing task

Question 9

Explain the testing of the reformulated response modulation model.

Answer 9

1. Newman: picture-word task

2. Hiatt et al,: Picture-word stroop task

Question 10

Explain response modulation and self-regulation.

Answer 10

response modulation deficits will impair self-regulation.

aiming to improve self-regulation will not help, for they will not be able to access those skills.