Amplitude modulation of the contingent negative variation in psychopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Catarina Prata; Rita Almeida; Rita Pasion; Pedro R Almeida; Fernando Barbosa; Fernando Ferreira-Santos

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105469

Amplitude modulation of the contingent negative variation in psychopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2023 Dec:155:105469. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105469. Epub 2023 Nov 17.

Authors

Catarina Prata¹, Rita Almeida², Rita Pasion³, Pedro R Almeida⁴, Fernando Barbosa², Fernando Ferreira-Santos²

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: up201306056@fpce.up.pt.
² Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal.
³ Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal; HEI-LAB, Lusófona University, Porto, Portugal.
⁴ Faculty of Law, School of Criminology, Interdisciplinary Research Center on Crime, Justice and Security, University of Porto, Portugal.

PMID: 37977277
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105469

Abstract

The CNV is analyzed in tasks related to EEG studies, often with participants presenting psychopathic personality traits. A systematic search of the literature was conducted, to solve some inconsistencies regarding CNV amplitude modulation by psychopathy. Nine studies (N = 317) were retrieved for analysis. Three meta-analyses were run - CNV, iCNV, tCNV. A qualitative analysis - reporting CNV amplitudes modulated by psychopathy dimensional features - was also featured. Overall effects for CNV and iCNV were not significant. Larger tCNV amplitudes were found in participants reporting higher psychopathy traits, g = -0.58, 95% CI [- 0.94, - 0.22]. These findings were surprising when confronted with previous assumptions in the literature, especially considering that no significant heterogeneity between studies was found. Neither of the studies' characteristics was a significant moderator. Findings require the need to discuss key differences between adaptive/(mal)adjustment patterns in participants presenting psychopathic traits. Future studies dissociating iCNV and tCNV modulation by psychopathy, especially in community samples and through a dimensional lens, could help to better understand the construct of psychopathy.

Keywords: CNV; EEG; ERP; Meta-analysis; Psychopathy.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Systematic Review
Review

MeSH terms

Antisocial Personality Disorder*
Contingent Negative Variation*
Humans