Biological Explanations- Neural Explanation Flashcards
What does it mean by neural explanation?
→ they consider now structures in the brain may be different in brain a criminals as well as difference in neurotransmitter levels
Where is the evidence of the brain regions that makes criminals and non criminals differ?
✓ muchof the evidence has come from studies of individuals with APD
What is APD?-
- Anti social personality disorder
- APD is associated with reduced emotional responses and lack as empathy
- it is a condition which characterises many criminals
What differs in brains of people with APD?
- Research was shown reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex in people with add.
- The prefrontal cortex regulates emotional behaviour - gage
- Raine (2000) found 11% reduction in grey matter in pre frontal cortex.I meaning they find it harder to process information.
What was sound in Raine (2004) brain imaging studies.
71 brain imaging studies showing that murderes und psychopaths and violent individualshave reduced functioning in the prefrontal cortex
- lowered activity in this area is associated with impulsiveness and control
What was found in amygdala of criminals?
_ Raine et al (1997) also studied murderers who were sound ‘not guilty by insanity’
- he compared there opened with matched controls.
- they sound abnormal asymmetries in the limbic system especially the amygdala - there was reduced activity on the left and increased activity on the right.
What is the amygdala responsible for?
_ For controlling emotions and detecting threat.
What did Seo et al (2008) find?
- Low levels a serotonin of linked to impulsive aggression.
- this creates a lack a inhibition by prefrontal cortex
- this means people act on impulsive aggressive urges.
What did wright et al (2015) find ?
- high levels of noradrenaline is associated with aggressions with violence and criminality
- associated with activation of the sympathetic nervous system
What is the SyNS?
_ Fight/flight
-fight
