3.5.2 Role of amygdala (bio)

Question 1

What do MRI scans show about criminals

Answer 1

they have a smaller amygdala and a lack of functioning in the frontal cortex.

Question 2

What does the amygdala effect

Answer 2

how we respond to assess threats.

Question 3

What does normal functioning of the amygdala do?

Answer 3

inhibits anti-social behaviour

Question 4

What does reduced functioning of the amygdala lead to

Answer 4

traits such as aggression which are associated with criminality.

Question 5

What did Gao et al link the amygdala to

Answer 5

fear conditioning

Question 6

What do Gao et al’s findings suggest

Answer 6

that Dysfunction in the amygdala means that people do not process fear information accurately and so they do not learn to associate crime with fear of punishment.