The overarching goal of the IDDP Lab is to characterize neurobehavioral mechanisms that underlie the development and persistence of psychopathological behaviors, particularly externalizing and related behaviors (e.g., aggression, delinquency, substance use, psychopathy). Specifically, in both human and nonhuman primates (i.e., chimpanzees), projects in our lab focus on the role of individual differences – particularly temperamental and neurocognitive indices of (dis)inhibitory and regulatory processes – as central mechanisms in the development of these problem behaviors. In service of this goal, a primary feature of our research is a focus on how to best assess, and thereby understand, key psychopathological, temperament/personality, and neuropsychological constructs. A secondary focus is on the dynamic interplay between and among these individual differences and various contextual factors.
Current Projects
Personality and Neuroscientific Indicators of (Dis)inhibitory and Regulatory Processes
Through this work, we aim to characterize transdiagnostic neurobehavioral mechanisms underlying externalizing and related behaviors. Current projects include, for example, examinations of differential associations between components of temperamental Disinhibition and executive functioning and various outcomes of interest (e.g., aggression, substance use, psychopathy). Additionally, we are currently working on studies examining neuroscientific and genomic correlates of psychopathology-relevant processes.
Representative recent publications:
Hecht, L. K. & Latzman, R. D. (in press). Exploring the differential associations between components of executive functioning and reactive and proactive aggression. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology.
Berg, J., Latzman, R. D., Bliwise, N. G., & Lilienfeld, S. O. (2015). Parsing the heterogeneity of impulsivity: A meta-analytic review of the behavioral implications of the UPPS for psychopathology. Psychological Assessment, 27, 1129-1146.
Latzman, R. D., Taglialetela, J. P., & Hopkins, W. D. (2015). Delay of gratification is associated with white matter connectivity in the dorsal prefrontal cortex: A diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) study in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Proceedings of the Royal Society: B, 282, 20150764.
Hecht, L. K., & Latzman, R. D. (2015). Revealing the nuanced associations between facets of trait impulsivity and reactive and proactive aggression. Personality and Individual Differences, 83, 192-197.
Latzman, R. D., Chan, W. Y., & Shishido, Y. (2013). Impulsivity moderates the association between racial discrimination and alcohol problems. Addictive Behaviors, 38, 2898-2904.
Trait Models of Personality and Neuroscientific Indicators of Personality Pathology
We conceptualize personality pathology within a trait personality-based framework; thus, we consider personality pathology as a configuration of traits that differ from normality in degree rather than kind. From this perspective, our research focuses on more fully understanding the neurobiological and evolutionary basis of personality in service of elucidating pathophysiological processes underlying both personality pathology and broader forms of psychopathology.
Representative recent publications:
Hecht, L. K., Berg, J. M., Lilienfeld, S. O., & Latzman, R. D. (2016). Parsing the heterogeneity of psychopathy and aggression: Differential associations across dimensions and gender. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, & Treatment, 7, 2-14.
Latzman, R. D., Drislane, L. E., Hecht, L. K., Brislin, S. J., Patrick, S. J., Lilienfeld, S. O., Freeman, H. J., Schapiro, S. J., & Hopkins, W. D. (2016). A chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) model of triarchic psychopathy constructs: Development and initial validation. Clinical Psychological Science, 4, 50-66.
Latzman, R. D., Young, L. J., & Hopkins, W. D. (2016). Displacement behaviors in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): A neurogenomics investigation of the RDoC Negative Valence Systems domain. Psychophysiology, 53, 355-363. [Special Issue: “Reshaping clinical science: Psychophysiology and the NIMH Research Domain Criteria Initiative”]
Latzman, R. D., Freeman, H. J., Schapiro, S. J., & Hopkins, W. D. (2015). The contribution of genetics and early rearing experiences to hierarchical personality dimensions in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 109, 889-900.
Latzman, R. D., Hopkins, W. D., Keebaugh, A. C., & Young, L. J. (2014). Personality in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): Exploring the hierarchical structure and associations with the Vasopressin V1a receptor gene. PLOS ONE, 9, e95741.
Latzman, R. D., Lilienfeld, S. O, Latzman, N. E., & Clark, L. A. (2013). Exploring callous and unemotional traits in youth via trait personality: An eye toward DSM-5. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 4, 191-202.
Collaborators
Bill Hopkins, Georgia State University & Yerkes National Primate Research Center
Scott Lilienfeld, Emory University
Chris Patrick, Florida State University
Lee Anna Clark, University of Notre Dame
Jatin Vaidya, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Ahmed Megreya, Qatar University
