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American Journal of Case Reports and Clinical Images
American Journal of Case Reports and Clinical Images
Scientists
have uncovered a striking brain difference linked to psychopathy: people with
psychopathic traits were found to have a striatum — a brain region tied to
reward, motivation, and decision-making — that was about 10% larger on average
than those without such traits. Using MRI scans and psychological assessments
on 120 participants, researchers connected this enlarged brain region to
thrill-seeking, impulsive behavior, and a stronger drive for stimulation.
Neuroscientists
have identified a measurable brain difference between people with psychopathic
traits and those with few or none. In a study published in the Journal of
Psychiatric Research, researchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
(NTU Singapore), the University of Pennsylvania, and California State
University found that a brain region involved in reward and motivation was
larger in individuals with psychopathic traits.
Using
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the team found that the striatum was about 10
percent larger on average in psychopathic individuals compared with a control
group. The striatum sits deep in the forebrain and plays a role in movement
planning, decision-making, motivation, reinforcement, and how the brain responds
to rewards.
Psychopathy is generally associated with an egocentric and
antisocial personality pattern. People with strong psychopathic traits often
show reduced empathy, little remorse for harmful actions, and, in some cases, a
greater likelihood of criminal behavior. Not everyone with psychopathic traits
commits crimes, and not every person who commits a crime is a psychopath, but
research has consistently linked psychopathy with a higher risk of violent
behavior.
Source: Nanyang Technological University.
American Journal of Case Reports and Clinical Images (ISSN:3067-2368) is an international open-acc
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