Decreased norepinephrine functioning could contribute to adverse reactions to fearful and punishing stimuli in people with ODD.

Norepinephrine and Punishment Processing  


Serotonin is associated with aggressive behavior in many different psychopathologies, not solely DBD’s. People with ODD have a reduction of 5-HT functioning which contributes to lack of responsiveness to fearful stimuli. Additionally, medications such as lithium and risperidone that target serotonergic receptors decrease disruptive aggressive behavior in this population. 

Serotonin and Punishment Processing in people with ODD

Arizona State University

Patients with ODD have a deficit in punishment processing. They display a lack of fear of punishment which was measured through various ANS responses (heart rate, basal-skin response etc.). This explains why individuals with ODD continue to perform inappropriate behavior due to their insensitivity to punishment cues. 


Punishment processing in ODD Patients


Matthys, Vanderschuren, L. J. M. J., & Schutter, D. J. L. G. (2013). The neurobiology of oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder: Altered functioning in three mental domains. Development and Psychopathology, 25(1), 193–207. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579412000272

The neurobiology of oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder: Altered functioning in three mental domains

ANS hyporeactivity in patients with ODD is examined by analyzing skin conductance responses using an experimental design. When comparing those with ODD to those in the control groups it becomes evident that people with ODD have a reduced skin conduction in response to fearful stimuli than the control groups.  

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) Markers for Measuring Punishment Processing in Patients with ODD


Reduced cortisol reactivity has been found in people with ODD. In other words, people with ODD do not display stress when encountering stressful situations. This could also be connected to decreased information processing that normally triggers cognitive-emotional reactions. 

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