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Antisocial Brain Tissue Deficit
And other recent science discoveries
 UNIV. OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RESEARCHERS studied 21 men who were all diagnosed
with Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD), which is characterized by irresponsibility,
deceitfulness, impulsiveness, irritability, lack of emotional depth and conscience, and
lifelong antisocial behavior. All of the subjects had committed serious violent crimes.
Fewer Nerve Cells
Using brain-imaging techniques, researchers found that the antisocial men had an
11%—14% reduction in the volume of nerve cells in the prefrontal cortex compared to
normal males.
The Prefrontal Cortex
The prefrontal cortex is the brain's foremost outer portion, located right behind the
eyes. This region seems to house the mental machinery that enables most people to
learn moral sensibilities and to exercise self-restraint.
Physical Abnormality To Blame?
Previous research has shown
that convicted murderers and other violent offenders have poor functioning in that
region. The new findings demonstrate that a physical abnormality may underlie the
poor functioning in these violent antisocial men and that society may have to rethink
how it regards violent crime, punishment, and the scope of free will.
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