Do mirror neurons contribute to Antisocial Personality Disorder? A narrative review of evidence and theoretical models

Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) is characterised by chronic impulsivity, social irresponsibility, and a reduced capacity for empathy. Since mirror neurons have been proposed to contribute to empathic understanding, this review examines the question: To what extent do mirror neurons play a role in ASPD? Research evidence suggests that reduced activation in mirror neuron–related regions may be associated with antisocial traits. Fecteau et al. (2008) found a correlation between higher psychopathic trait scores and decreased motor cortex excitability, interpreted as reduced mirror neuron activity. Additional studies, such as Sims et al. (2012) and Hosking et al. (2017), provide indirect support through the links between mimicry, reward processing, and antisocial behaviour. However, challenging evidence by Meffert et al. (2013) indicates that individuals with psychopathic traits may be able to modulate empathy voluntarily, suggesting that mirror neuron dysfunction alone may not explain ASPD. Current research is limited by its reliance on non-clinical samples and the still-developing understanding of the mirror neuron system. Overall, while there appears to be a relationship between mirror neuron activity and antisocial traits, evidence remains insufficient to conclude that the same applies to clinically diagnosed ASPD. Future research using clinical ASPD samples is needed to clarify this relationship and to explore potential implications for treatment. This article is a narrative review based on previously published literature and does not involve human participants.