Project Description

Violent crime, which has enormous human and economic costs, is mostly committed by people with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). About one third of whom meet additional criteria for psychopathy (ASPD+P), and struggle greatly to empathise with others, commit more serious and violent crime, and respond especially poorly to treatments, compared to those with ASPD without psychopathy (ASPD-P). Evidence for good treatments is poor in both groups. A better understanding of the neurocognitive abnormalities and their underlying biology within these groups of violent offenders is important to address this problem.

This study will compare empathy in violent offenders with ASPD+/-P to empathy in healthy nonoffenders, using a robust measure of cognitive and affective empathy- EmpaToM. Alongside this task, cutting-edge ‘wearable’ brain scan technology- OPM-MEG – will be used to develop neural markers of empathy deficits. Furthermore, putative E/I deficits in ASPD+/-P will be explored using 7T Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, while a novel computational approach will be applied to an additional neuropsychology battery, based on work by Professor Patricia Lockwood at UoB, focusing on decision-making and moral reasoning. Structural MRI data will be analysed using FREESURFER, with opportunities to collaborate with the ENIGMA consortium. A parallel feasibility arm in youths with Conduct Disorder, supported by Professor Stephane De Brito at UoB, provides a chance to develop unique skillset in working with both youth and adult forensic populations.

This innovative project therefore provides an outstanding opportunity for a PhD student to develop a rigorous skillset in cutting edge neuroscience approaches.