Biological explanations - Brain physiology (neuroanatomy)

Question 1

What is the limbic system?

Answer 1

The primitive part of the brain where emotions are modulated

Question 2

Why is the limbic system important for understanding psychopaths?

Answer 2

Problems processing emotions leads to a lack of empathy and remorse

Question 3

Who found that anti-social individuals have a smaller frontal lobe volume and what does this suggest?

Answer 3

Raine et al.; It is argued that this reduced activity is why people with anti-social personality disorder do not feel guilt or appear to lack a conscience. This means that they do not have the “brake” that the rest of the population have which stops the majority of them committing crime

Question 4

Who found that psychopaths have less activity in the limbic system but more in the frontal lobe, suggesting logic and planning, using fMRI scans?

Answer 4

Kent et al.

Question 5

What could cause brain underdevelopment?

Answer 5

Abuse or trauma