Biology subjects

Wongupparaj, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Wongupparaj, P..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Narcissistic and Antisocial Personality Traits are both encoded in the Triple Network: Connectomics evidence

The neural bases of narcissistic and antisocial traits are still under debate. One intriguing question is whether these traits are encoded within the so-called triple network e.g. the default mode (DMN), salience (SN), and fronto-parietal (FPN) networks, and whether these traits affect the same networks in a similar manner. Connectome-based analyses were conducted on resting-state scans from 183 participants, examining regional and global graph-theoretic metrics in the DMN, SN, and FPN, with the visual and sensorimotor networks as controls. Our findings revealed a clear involvement of the triple network in narcissistic and antisocial traits, confirming a shared neural substrate for the two traits. Both traits were negatively predicted by the anterior cingulate cortex of the SN, possibly indicating less awareness of dangers and more proneness to engage in risky behaviors. Additionally, both traits were positively predicted by the lateral prefrontal cortex of the FPN, suggesting augmented strategic thinking to manipulate others and increased planning skills to achieve personal goals. Besides similarities, there were also some differences. Specific hubs of the DMN were positively associated with narcissism but negatively related with antisocials, possibly explaining their differences in self-reflection and thinking about the self, largely present in the former, but usually reduced in the latter. These results extend previous findings on the involvement of the triple network in personality disorders and suggest both common and different mechanisms underlying narcissistic and antisocial traits. As such, these findings could pave the way for developing potential biomarkers of personality pathology and identify neurostimulation intervention targets.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Narcissus reflected: gray and white matter features joint contribution to the default mode network in predicting narcissistic personality traits

Despite the clinical significance of narcissistic personality, its neural bases have not been clear yet, primarily due to methodological limitations of the previous studies, such as the low sample size, the use of univariate techniques and the focus on only one brain modality. In this study, we employed for the first time a combination of unsupervised and supervised machine learning methods, to identify the joint contributions of gray (GM) and white matter (WM) to narcissistic personality traits (NPT). After preprocessing, the brain scans of 135 participants were decomposed into eight independent networks of covarying GM and WM via Parallel ICA. Subsequently, stepwise regression and Random Forest were used to predict NPT. We hypothesize that a fronto-temporo parietal network mainly related to the Default Mode Network, may be involved in NPT and white matter regions related to these regions. Results demonstrated a distributed network that included GM alterations in fronto-temporal regions, the insula, and the cingulate cortex, along with WM alterations in cerebellar and thalamic regions. To assess the specificity of our findings, we also examined whether the brain network predicting narcissism could predict other personality traits (i.e., Histrionic, Paranoid, and Avoidant personalities). Notably, this network did not predict these personality traits. Additionally, a supervised machine learning model (Random Forest) was used to extract a predictive model to generalize to new cases. Results confirmed that the same network could predict new cases. These findings hold promise for advancing our understanding of personality traits and potentially uncovering brain biomarkers associated with narcissism.

neuroscience↗