Localisation of increased prefrontal white matter in pathological liars

Br J Psychiatry. 2007 Feb:190:174-5. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.106.025056.

Abstract

We examined white matter volumes in four prefrontal subregions using structural magnetic resonance imaging in 10 pathological liars, 14 antisocial controls, and 20 normal controls. Liars showed a relatively widespread increase in white matter (23-36%) in orbitofrontal, middle and inferior, but not superior, frontal gyri compared with antisocial and normal controls. This white matter increase may predispose some individuals to pathological lying.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Brain Diseases / pathology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Deception*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lie Detection / psychology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Prefrontal Cortex / pathology*