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Psychopaths Have Brain Structure Abnormality

mmmscience writes "A group of scientists has identified a structure in the brain of psychopaths that is abnormal when compared with controls. The change is found in the uncinate fasciculus, a bridge of white matter that connects the amygdala (emotion/aggression brain region) and the orbitofrontal cortex (decision making region). Interestingly, the greater the abnormality in the region, the more severe the levels of sociopathy in a subject. The results were published as 'Altered connections on the road to psychopathy' in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. A researcher on the team suggests the finding could have considerable implications in the world of criminal justice, where such scans could one day be presented as evidence in a trial." The study's results have not yet been replicated by other researchers.

9 of 438 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Corrective Surgery? by Shakrai · · Score: 5, Funny

    It would be interesting if you could fix sociopathy with a knife.

    Well, you can but firearms are generally more effective and easier to employ ;)

    --
    I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
    We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
  2. That explains the Harris government. by Garbad+Ropedink · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well that certainly explains why Mike Harris closed down all those mental hospitals. All the seriously ill mental patients were all holding office.

    --
    And that was the last Terry Fox run I ever participated in.
  3. MOD PARENT DOWN by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 0, Funny

    Nobody likes hearing their "race" is way more predisposed to go apeshit and kill a ton of people.

    Mod parent down! The troll is implying that Africans mimic the behavior of mad gorrillas! AC, I humbly ask that you quit posting that flamebait before you make certain people get all uppity 'n' shit.

  4. Re:Corrective Surgery? by exley · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, you can but firearms are generally more effective and easier to employ ;)

    Hey nothing psycho about that response...

  5. Re:First Posters Have Brain Structure Frostiness by rbowles · · Score: 2, Funny

    Burma shave.

    --
    /* MAGIC THEATRE
    ENTRANCE NOT FOR EVERYBODY
    MADMEN ONLY */
  6. Re:To be used in court cases how? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    So we confirm they're a psychopath, we acknowledge its bad to really 'punish' them because it was unavoiadble.... but then what? I guess the answer is a nice cushy white box with 3 hots and a cot...

    Three hots and a cot sounds peachy keen to me. Just as long as they are able to earn it. In the arena. Pitted against folks like themselves.

    Somehow I can't see them objecting.

    "You want me to what? Kill that guy? No problem. He's armed you say? That'll make it interesting."

  7. Re:Cause or effect? by kothmac · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ok, why is the increased sale of ice cream correlated to the increased number of shark attacks? Or murder? ...

    Sharks really love ice cream, and can smell it in the water from miles away. So called "educational" shows like to say blood instead, to prevent people from freaking out.

  8. re:psychopath != sociopath by ed.han · · Score: 2, Funny

    assuming the study's conclusions are borne out in the future: i can easily see the legal tactic becoming known as "the reaver defense".

  9. Re:Corrective Surgery? by Hal_Porter · · Score: 2, Funny

    It would be interesting if you could fix sociopathy with a knife.

    Well, you can but firearms are generally more effective and easier to employ ;)

    "Have you ever taken the Voight-Kampff test yourself, Mr Deckard?"

    --
    echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;