Amygdala and aggression

Question 1

other AO1 points that arent already in TBI explain.

Answer 1

• reduced volume = lack of empathy and emotions -> Yang 2009

- Raine low left/high right activity

Question 2

Difference between left and right amygdala

Answer 2

Left: postive + negative response/reward/motivation -> low levels is happy and high levels fear

Right: negative emotions (fear/sadness)
-> if over reactive = nearural pathway is too slow -> pre-frontal cortex cant slow down the amgydala rage = more reactive to provacation and easily frustrated

Question 3

What does Raine suggset about amygdala and crime

Answer 3

a dysfunctional amygdla means being highly active in the right hemisphere but low activating in the left

-> left cant regulate right as pure negatively + right is quickly processing info more than left

Question 4

Give studies that support this

Answer 4

• Yang (2009): MRI scans -> measure amygdala diff psychopaths + control group. = psychopaths decrease volume on both sides compared to controls + deformations in surface -> sig correlations between reduced volume and psychopathy scores (smaller volume = less control more anti-social behaviour)
• Matthies (2012) looked into size + amygdala using scanning techniques. = high sig negative correlation between amygdala volumes/aggresion
• Glenn (2009) not just size but functioning -> reducing psyhcopathy tendencies. -> used FMRI scanning = psychopathy individuals had reduced amygdala activity during moral decision making (deficits in brain regions for moral reasoning) = worry less about harming others
• Yu Gao (2010) fear conditioning on 1800 3.yr olds (1990) P’s after 20yrs = had criminal history -> failed fear conditioning + deficits at age 3 predicts criminal behaviour at age 23

Question 5

Give studies that give contrast

Answer 5

• Derntl (2009) MRI scans -> testosterone effects on amygdala activity (healthy males) = increased testosterone improved amygdala activity to process threat-related stimuli (fearful/angry facial expressions) = suggest that when faced with such scenarios testosterone in males/females process automatic processes -> attentional shifts + decrease subconscious fear = facilitate approach behaviour
• > suggest why violent crimes are in men than women due to high testosterone

Question 6

Give application and contrast

Answer 6

Kiel (2006) suggest that surgical removal of anterior temporal love leads to reduced psyhcpahic/anti-social symptoms, violence, hostility, increase empathy and that electric amygdalotomy on severe aggressive disorders results in reduced aggressive behaviours and restores emotional control

However, treatment is extremely expensive so not all patients are financially available to receive such treatment and side effects include temporary vision problems, and the eyes and skin being sensitive to light for a few days or weeks