Common and distinct modulation of electrophysiological indices of feedback processing by autistic and psychopathic traits

Abstract

Both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and psychopathy are primarily characterized by social dysfunction; overlapping phenotypic features may reflect altered function in common brain mechanisms. The current study examined the degree to which neural response to social and nonsocial feedback is modulated by autistic versus psychopathic traits in a sample of typically developing adults (N = 31, 11 males, 18–52 years). Event-related potentials were recorded whilst participants completed a behavioral task and received feedback on task performance. Both autistic and psychopathic traits were associated with alterations in the neural correlates of feedback processing. Sensitivity to specific forms of feedback (social, nonsocial, positively valenced, negatively valenced) differed between the two traits. Autistic traits were associated with decreased sensitivity to social feedback. In contrast, the antisocial domain of psychopathic traits was associated with an overall decrease in sensitivity to feedback, and the interpersonal manipulation domain was associated with preserved processing of positively valenced feedback. Results suggest distinct alterations within specific mechanisms of feedback processing may underlie similar difficulties in social behavior.

KEYWORDS:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Psychopathic traits
• Feedback processing
• Event-related potentials
• Electroencephalography

The authors would like to thank Craig Neumann and Gregor Kohls for their assistance.

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by NIMH R01 MH100173 (JM); NIMH K23 MH086785 (JM); CTSA UL1 RR024139 (JM) and the Autism Speaks Translational Postdoctoral Fellowship (AN).