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The neuropsychological correlates of pathological lying: evidence from behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia

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Abstract

To assess the neuropsychological bases of deception in a case of pathological lying. Pathological lying describes a clinical picture in which an individual repeatedly and apparently compulsively tells false stories. Developmental studies and neuroimaging studies suggested that executive functions and Theory of Mind are necessary for deception and that a dysfunctional prefrontal cortex may be involved in pathological lying. A patient presenting a pattern of behavioral alterations, including pathological lying, underwent a neurological, neuroradiological, neuropsychiatric, and neuropsychological examination. Psychopathological symptoms and cognitive deficits (executive functions and Theory of Mind) were suggestive of a behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), while the lack of prefrontal hypometabolism was suggestive of a bvFTD phenocopy syndrome. This first observation of pathological lying as a symptom of bvFTD contributes to characterize its spectrum of psychopathological features. Moreover, this clinical case contributed to describe the possible neurocognitive deficits involved in the development of pathological lying. Further studies are needed to investigate how a prefrontal impairment affecting executive functions and Theory of Mind may cause a susceptibility to pathological lying.

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Acknowledgments

Stock Ownership in medically-related fields: None. Consultancies: none. Advisory Boards: Bonuccelli: GSK, Lundbeck, Novartis, UCB. Partnerships: None. Honoraria: Bonuccelli for speeches at meeting by Boeringehr, GSK, Novartis. Grants: Bonuccelli: Regione Toscana Health Authority. Intellectual Property Rights: Bonuccelli from Sperling & Kupfer for a book authorship. Expert Testimony: None. Employment: University of Pisa (PM, BU) USL12 Toscana (BP). Contracts: None. Royalties: None. Other: None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Michele Poletti & Ubaldo Bonuccelli

  2. Neurology Unit, Hospital of Viareggio, USL12 Toscana, Viareggio, Italy

    Michele Poletti, Paolo Borelli & Ubaldo Bonuccelli

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  1. Michele Poletti
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  2. Paolo Borelli
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  3. Ubaldo Bonuccelli
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Correspondence to Ubaldo Bonuccelli.

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Poletti, M., Borelli, P. & Bonuccelli, U. The neuropsychological correlates of pathological lying: evidence from behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia. J Neurol 258, 2009–2013 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-011-6058-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-011-6058-1

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