ASB

Question 1

Genetics

Answer 1

Variance in behaviour is 40 to 60% due to genetics

Question 2

Prenatal and perinatal influences

Answer 2

1. Birth complications
2. Foetal maldevelopment
3. Alcohol during pregnancy
4. Lead levels
5. High manganese levels
6. Poor nutrition

Question 3

Hormones and neurotransmitters

Answer 3

1. Low cortisol level and disruptions of HPA axis
2. Increased testosterone levels
3. Low levels of serotonin = Link to MAOA gene = MAOA gene breaks down serotonin, reduced MAOA therefore results in higher serotonin levels = Contradictory? Yes! But we don’t know why

Question 4

Physiology

Answer 4

1. Low resting heart rate

2. Poor skin conductance

Question 5

Brain and imaging neurology

Answer 5

Frontal lobe:

1. DLPFC = Moral decision-making, self-regulation
2. Ventral PFC = Emotion processing, reward and punishment learning

Limbic system:

1. Amygdala:
   - More impulsive, reactive aggression if extreme amygdala activity
   - Reduced sense of danger, deficits in recognition of dangerous situations = Damaged amygdala
2. Anterior cingulate = Error processing, conflict monitoring, avoidance learning

Question 6

Intervention and prevention

Answer 6

1. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
2. Chemical castration
3. Omega-3 fatty acids
4. Transcranial direct-current stimulation
5. Mindfulness training = To enhance both PFC and amygdala functioning

Question 7

Neuro-moral hypothesis of ASB

Answer 7

Some impairment in antisocial individual disrupts moral and emotional decision-making leading to a predisposition in rule-breaking and ASB. Because they cannot feel what is right from wrong.