Neural Fingerprint of the Dark Triad: Resting State Functional Connectivity Alterations in Executive and Default Mode Networks
Richard Bakiaj, Clara Isabel Pantoja Muñoz, Alessandro Grecucci
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional, observational study using resting-state fMRI and group Independent Component Analysis |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 200 |
| Population | Participants with a mean age of 32.43 years, 105 females |
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Key findings | Higher Dark Triad scores correlated with increased BOLD temporal variability in the Central Executive Network and decreased variability in the Default Mode Network. |
Abstract
The neural foundations of the Dark Triad (DT) personality traits—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—remain largely unexplored despite their profound impact on social behavior. Previous research has indicated potential structural and functional alterations in the default mode network (DMN) and reward-related regions in individuals exhibiting high levels of DT traits. However, these studies have often been limited by univariate analytical methods and small, unbalanced sample sizes. To address these gaps, we analyzed brain scans from a robust sample of 200 participants (mean age: 32.43 years; 105 females) using group Independent Component Analysis (gICA), an unsupervised machine learning approach. This method allowed us to extract temporal variability associated with resting-state macro-networks without relying on predefined regions of interest. Our analysis identified 20 macro-networks, of which two were significantly predictive of DT traits: the Central Executive Network (CEN) and the posterior hub of the Default Mode Network (DMN). Notably, higher DT scores correlated with increased blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) temporal variability within the CEN and decreased variability within the DMN. The heightened activity in the CEN may reflect enhanced manipulative abilities and strategic planning commonly observed in individuals with high DT traits, which is supported by the association between the CEN and the Machiavellianism subscale. Conversely, reduced functionality in the DMN may correspond to diminished self-reflective and emotional capacities in these individuals. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the neurobiological basis of DT traits and hold implications for future research and interventions.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on default mode network, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functional connectivity of default mode network components: Correlation, anticorrelation, and causality Healthy subjects | 2008 | Observational study using resting-state fMRI and seed correlation analysis | |
| Patterns of Brain Activity Supporting Autobiographical Memory, Prospection, and Theory of Mind, and Their Relationship to the Default Mode Network Healthy subjects | 2009 | Experimental study using fMRI | |
| Dynamic reconfiguration of the default mode network during narrative comprehension Human subjects | 2016 | Experimental study | |
| Broadband Cortical Desynchronization Underlies the Human Psychedelic State Healthy human participants | 2013 | Experimental study | |
| The brain on art: intense aesthetic experience activates the default mode network Human observers | 2012 | Observational study with fMRI and behavioral analysis |