What part of the brain does NPD affect?

Taken together, this work shows that NPD is a serious disorder characterized by lack of empathy, grandiosity and impaired emotional regulation. It is associated, at least in part, with brain irregularities primarily within the insular cortex and also in the frontal lobes of the brain.

Where is narcissism located in the brain?

Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to scan the brains of 34 people, including 17 individuals who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder, and found that pathological narcissists have less gray matter in a part of the cerebral cortex called the left anterior insula.

Why do narcissists have anxiety?

One of the main characteristics of individuals with increased levels of vulnerable narcissism is anxiety. Inter alia because of their high hypersensitivity and insecurity, they often experience high levels of anxiety in social interactions, and therefore tend to avoid social contacts in the offline world [9, 23].

How does a narcissist evolve?

Narcissism may be the result of evolutionary selection because it offers survival and reproductive advantages. Holzman and Donnellan propose three explanations as to why: Narcissism may advance short-term mating—and in so doing, evolutionary fitness (i.e., passing down genes to succeeding generations).

What happens in the brain of a narcissist?

According to research, people with NPD have reduced gray matter volume in areas of the brain related to empathy and heightened activity during rest in brain regions associated with self-directed and self-absorbed thinking.

Is NPD genetic?

The exact causes of NPD are unknown. Because NPD can be inherited, a genetic link is suspected. There are also theories that excessive praise or judgment by parents, early trauma and abuse may contribute to NPD. NPD is not caused by a medical condition, drugs, or a person’s developmental stage in life.

Can a narcissist be nervous?