Reversal deficits in individuals with psychopathy in explicit but not implicit learning conditions
Publication year
2013Author(s)
Number of pages
8 p.
Source
Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 38, 4, (2013), pp. E13-E20ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

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Organization
SW OZ DCC NRP
Psychiatry
SW OZ BSI KLP
Medical Psychology
Journal title
Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience
Volume
vol. 38
Issue
iss. 4
Languages used
English (eng)
Page start
p. E13
Page end
p. E20
Subject
DCN PAC - Perception action and control; DI-BCB_DCC_Theme 3: Plasticity and Memory; Experimental Psychopathology and Treatment; NCEBP 8 - Psychological determinants of chronic illness DCN PAC - Perception action and control; Neuropsychology and rehabilitation psychology; Neuro- en revalidatiepsychologieAbstract
BACKGROUND: Psychopathy is a severe personality disorder that has been linked to impaired behavioural adaptation during reinforcement learning. Recent electrophysiological studies have suggested that psychopathy is related to impairments in intentionally using information relevant for adapting behaviour, whereas these impairments remain absent for behaviour relying on automatic use of information. We sought to investigate whether previously found impairments in response reversal in individuals with psychopathy also follow this dichotomy. We expected response reversal to be intact when the automatic use of information was facilitated. In contrast, we expected impaired response reversal when intentional use of information was required. METHODS: We included offenders with psychopathy and matched healthy controls in 2 experiments with a probabilistic cued go/no-go reaction time task. The task implicated the learning and reversal of 2 predictive contingencies. In experiment 1, participants were not informed about the inclusion of a learning component, thus making cue-dependent learning automatic/incidental. In experiment 2, the instructions required participants to actively monitor and learn predictive relationships, giving learning a controlled/intentional nature. RESULTS: While there were no significant group differences in acquisition learning in either experiment, the results revealed impaired response reversal in offenders with psychopathy when controlled learning was facilitated. Interestingly, this impairment was absent when automatic learning was predominant. LIMITATIONS: Possible limitations are the use of a nonforensic control group and of self-report measures for drug use. CONCLUSION: Response reversal deficits in individuals with psychopathy are modulated by the context provided by the instructions, according to the distinction between automatic and controlled processing in these individuals.
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- Academic publications [202923]
- Electronic publications [101091]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [80072]
- Faculty of Social Sciences [27123]
- Open Access publications [69755]
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