RESPONSE MODULATION IN PSYCHOPATHS

Abstract

Although attempts have been made to explain the behavioral disinhibitionary nature of psychopaths using the deficient response modulation hypothesis (Patterson & Newman, 1993), empirical support thus far has been mixed. The utility of this hypothesized deficit was examined using a dual modality approach to a modified version of the visual, mixed incentive Go / No Go paradigm: the first task using the conventional colour stimuli (red/green) theme, and the second employing object categories (natural/ man made) theme. Both tasks required specific inhibitory demands whereby participants had to inhibit prepared responses when cued targets either changed location or theme. Results from the colour task supported the response modulation deficit hypothesis, characterized by poor passive avoidance exhibited by psychopaths compared to non psychopaths. However, psychopaths displayed superior performance on the location change condition of the picture task, irrespective of side of target presentation. Results were interpreted in terms of the difference in the paradigm design, and cast a doubt over a global perspective of the response modulation hypothesis.