Neuropsychology and Law 4

Question 1

Psychopaty

Answer 1

Characterised by full lack of empathy leading to manipulation. Individuals cannot make appropriate moral value judgments and put brakes on their impulses. Additionally, cannot detect fear in others.

Question 2

Paralimbic system

Answer 2

Impairments of orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex and insula.

Question 3

Theory of mind

Answer 3

One’s ability to assume another’s internal and mental states to predict feelings, intentions, ideas and opinions.

Question 4

Cognitive ToM

Answer 4

To understand other’s beliefs, intentions and motivations.
Low levels were linked to high reactive aggression.

Question 5

Affective ToM

Answer 5

To understand other’s feelings, overall empathy.
High levels were linked to proactive aggression in children.

Question 6

Link to brain abnormalities

Answer 6

Genes and environmental factors are equally involved.
Reduced Gray Matter Volume (GMV) in the prefrontal and temporal regions, linked to impulsivity and poor social behavior.
Dysfunctional amygdala activity, affecting emotion processing and empathy.
Abnormalities in the OFC, affecting decision-making and risk assessment.

Question 7

Reduced grey matter volume (GMV)

Answer 7

Less emotional engagement leading to diminished emotional response.
OFC impaired activity leads to lack of learning to avoid behaviours associated with negative outcomes.

Question 8

Amygdala

Answer 8

Center for affective processes (e.g. empathy and fear conditioning + emotion recognition). Disruption can affect one’s ability to form stimulus-reinforcement associations.
Higher volume linked to exacerbation of emotional and reactive behaviour, leading to conduct disorders.
Lower volume linked to facilitation of emotional detachment.

Question 9

Striatum

Answer 9

Involved in interpersonal-affective and impulsive-antisocial features + reward seeking, impulsive behaviour. Increased volume linked to psychopathy.
Individuals show heightened sensivity to potential rewards.
Youth: can struggle with processing absence of expected rewards, proving a lack of ability to adapt behaviour based on changing environmental contingencies (if-then).

Question 10

Legal insanity

Answer 10

Lack of empathy does not per se constitute a lack of rationality and awareness. Actually, psychopaths are very aware of their crimes and commit them to gain something.

Elements:
- malingering: law can count on people faking their conditions;
- M’ Naghten Rule: psychopaths don’t lack free will and are not deluded about the external world;
- lack of empathy is hard to excuse.