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Exploring the Effects of Psychopathy and Emotions on Time Estimation, Intertemporal Decision-Making, and Their Neurophysiological Correlates

40 Pages Posted: 10 Jan 2022 Publication Status: Published

See all articles by Diana Moreira

Diana Moreira

Universidade do Porto

Andreia Azeredo

Universidade do Porto

Susana Barros

Universidade do Porto

Fernando Barbosa

Universidade do Porto

Abstract

There are certain characteristics of psychopathy that may be related to changes in intertemporal choices. Specifically, traits such as impulsivity or lack of inhibitory control may be associated with a more pronounced discounting function in intertemporal choices (IC) and, in turn, this function may be based on changes in the basic mechanisms of time estimation (TE). Therefore, this study aimed to examine potential differences in neurophysiological correlates, specifically through N1, P3, and LPP measurements, which may be related to TE and IC, examining their modulation according to psychopathic traits, different emotional conditions, and different decision-making conditions. In the TE task, there was an almost significant effect of disinhibition on the values of q, with higher values on this variable associated with greater values of q in the unpleasant emotional condition. In the IC task, there were no significant effects of any psychopathy measure on the values of the gains and losses ratios. In addition, the analysis of the neurophysiological correlates of the IC task did not reveal a main effect of the decision-making condition, nor effects of any psychopathy measure on the N1 and P3 amplitudes. The analysis of the neurophysiological correlates of the TE task revealed that higher meanness values are associated with smaller N1 amplitude in the pleasant emotional condition, whereas higher disinhibition values are associated with greater N1 amplitude in the pleasant emotional condition. Still in this task, higher disinhibition values were associated with a smaller LPP amplitude in the unpleasant emotional condition.

Keywords: Psychopathy, emotions, Time estimation, Decision-Making, EEG.

Suggested Citation

Moreira, Diana and Azeredo, Andreia and Barros, Susana and Barbosa, Fernando, Exploring the Effects of Psychopathy and Emotions on Time Estimation, Intertemporal Decision-Making, and Their Neurophysiological Correlates. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4004913 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4004913

Diana Moreira (Contact Author)

Universidade do Porto ( email )

Rua Dr. Roberto Frias
4200-464 Porto
Portugal

Andreia Azeredo

Universidade do Porto ( email )

Rua Dr. Roberto Frias
4200-464 Porto
Portugal

Susana Barros

Universidade do Porto ( email )

Rua Dr. Roberto Frias
4200-464 Porto
Portugal

Fernando Barbosa

Universidade do Porto ( email )

Rua Dr. Roberto Frias
4200-464 Porto
Portugal

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