[Psychophysiological criteria for assessing psychopathy].

The interstimulus intervals (10, 60 and 180 ms) discrimination were studied in psychopaths and subjects with psychopathic features (accentuated individualities after Leonard). Event related potentials to visual stimuli (successively presented strips with above mentioned intervals) were recorded. Essential intergroup differences were found in the cognitive performance and its dynamics. The deterioration of cognitive processes, learning deficiency and P300 decrease manifested by psychopaths allow to propose the existence of inherent or acquired pathology of the limbic brain, a key structure of the motivational and emotional behaviour.