Klinikum Bayreuth GmbH, Department of Neurology, Bayreuth, Germany.
Department of Physiological Psychology, University of Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany.
Psychophysiology. 2018 Jan;55(1). doi: 10.1111/psyp.12981. Epub 2017 Aug 18.
Based on the approach-withdrawal model of hemispheric asymmetry, anger and aggression have been linked to an approach-related pattern, characterized by stronger relative left-hemispheric anterior cortical activity. Recent work suggests that also in individuals with extremely violent tendencies, such as imprisoned offenders, approach-related asymmetry may be associated with self-reported trait anger and aggression. A putative association between alpha asymmetry and further characteristics relevant for aggression, such as callous-unemotional (CU) traits, remains to be explored. CU traits may increase the probability of aggressive behavior; nevertheless, they may also enable individuals to inhibit and postpone the overt display of aggression until circumstances grant its strongest impact. In the current exploratory study, we measured trait aggression, CU traits, and resting-state EEG asymmetry in the alpha band (8-13 Hz) in imprisoned violent offenders in a German high security prison. Results revealed that particularly trait callousness was associated with stronger relative right-hemispheric anterior cortical activity (i.e., a withdrawal-related pattern). An association between alpha asymmetry and aggression was not replicated. These preliminary findings suggest that, due to the involved emotional and interpersonal detachment, callousness might be withdrawal related, despite its potential to bring about aggressive behavior. They also imply that the identification of putative clinical subtypes in prisoners is required, as varying psychopathology might undermine an association between alpha asymmetry and aggression.
基于半球不对称性的趋近-回避模型，愤怒和攻击与趋近相关的模式有关，其特征是相对较强的左半球前皮质活动。最近的研究表明，即使在具有极端暴力倾向的个体中，如被监禁的罪犯，趋近相关的不对称性也可能与自我报告的特质愤怒和攻击性有关。阿尔法不对称性与进一步与攻击性相关的特征之间的假定关联，如无情特质（CU），仍有待探索。CU 特质可能会增加攻击行为的可能性；然而，它们也可能使个体能够抑制和推迟攻击性的公开表现，直到情况允许其产生最大的影响。在当前的探索性研究中，我们在德国一所高度安全监狱中测量了被监禁的暴力罪犯的特质攻击性、CU 特质和静息状态脑电图阿尔法波段（8-13Hz）的不对称性。结果表明，特质无情与相对较强的右半球前皮质活动（即回避相关模式）有关。阿尔法不对称性和攻击性之间的关联没有得到复制。这些初步发现表明，由于涉及到情感和人际上的冷漠，无情可能与回避有关，尽管它有可能引发攻击行为。它们还意味着，需要确定囚犯中可能存在的临床亚型，因为不同的精神病理学可能会破坏阿尔法不对称性和攻击性之间的关联。
