Neural Mediator of Schizotypy-Antisocial Behaviors Relationship: Prefrontal and Orbitofrontal Gray

Abstract

Background: Prior studies have established an association between schizotypal personality traits (schizotypy) and antisocial behaviors, but it is unclear what neural factors mediate this relationship. The present study asse! ssed the mediating effect of sub-regional prefrontal gray matter volume on the schizotypy- antisocial behaviors relationship.

Methods: Superior, middle, inferior, orbitofrontal, and rectal gyral gray matter volumes were assessed using structural magnetic resonance imaging in 108 adults from the community, together with schizotypy and antisocial behaviors.

Results: Schizotypy was positively associated with the antisocial behaviors and both of them were negatively associated with the total gray matter volumes in prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices. Mediation analyses showed that prefrontal cortex gray, specifically the orbitofrontal cortex gray fully mediated the association between schizotypy and antisocial behaviors after controlling for sex, age, race, IQ, socio-economic status (SES), whole brain volume, and substance abuse/dependence.

Discussion: Findings are the first to document a neural mediator of the schizotypy – antisocial behaviors relationship, and suggest that functions subserved by the orbitofrontal cortex including impulsive control and inhibition, emotion processing and decision- making may help explain this comorbidity.