Biological: Neural Explanation Flashcards
When undamaged, what does the pre-frontal cortex usually control?
Our understanding of social constructs and expectations such as laws which are a social construct.
What is APD?
Antisocial Personality Disorder, formally referred to as ‘psychopathy’ is associated with reduced emotional responses and a lack of empathy for the feelings of others. It can often lead to criminal behaviour.
What happens when the pre-frontal cortex is damaged?
We lose the grasp of social constructs and norms such as laws and crimes, the natural impulses are not moderated.
What research evidence links mirror neurons to offending behaviour?
Keysers, 2011, found that naturally criminals do not emphasise. However, when they are asked to emphasise their reaction is activated. This is controlled by mirror neurons and suggests they are not totally without empathy, but may have a neural ‘switch’ that they can turn off and on.
When undamaged, what does the limbic system link to?
Controlling emotion and motivation.
What is evidence for the pre-frontal cortex’s role in criminality?
Phineas Gage, 1894, was impaled by a metal rod through his PFC, leading to him developing ASP.
Raine, 2004, cited 74 neuroimages showing that violent individuals have reduced function in their PFC.
Why would it make sense a criminal would lack mirror neurons?
Without them they cannot empathise for their victims and therefore feel no regrets with their actions.
What research evidence is there linking the limbic system to offending behaviour?
Raine, 1997, studied murderers found not guilty by reason of insanity. He found abnormalities in the limbic system particularly in the amygdala when compared to a control group.
What are mirror neurons?
A type of neuron which fires when you do an action, and also, when you watch someone do the same.
