Neurocriminology is an emerging sub-discipline of biocriminology and criminology that applies brain imaging techniques and principles from neuroscience to understand, predict, and prevent crime.
While crime is partially a social and environmental problem, the main idea behind neurocriminology (also known as neurolaw) is that the condition of an individual's brain often needs to be included in the analysis for a complete understanding.
Lombroso's theory was that crime originated in part from abnormal brain physiology and that violent criminals where throwbacks to less evolved human types identifiable by ape-like physical characteristics.
[citation needed] The abnormalities can be either of general character or affect specific regions of the brain that control emotions, aggression or are responsible for ethical decisions: Low number of neurons in the prefrontal cortex.
A study in 2010 suggested that people with cavum septi pellucidi were prone to psychopathy, antisocial personality disorder, and had more charges and convictions for criminal offenses.
This brain maldevelopment was especially linked to lifelong antisocial behavior, i.e. a reckless disregard for self and others, lack of remorse, and aggression.
A 2004 study suggested that the psychopaths’ right hippocampus that partially controls emotions and regulates aggression was significantly bigger than the left.
In 1848 because of a construction accident he suffered a serious damage to his brain when a metal rod propelled by an explosive entered his lower left cheek and exited from the top-middle part of his head.
In 1966 Whitman unexpectedly killed his mother as well as wife, ascended the belltower of the University of Texas, Austin, and fired a rifle at students below.
Mr. Oft opted for a treatment program for pedophiles, but still couldn't resist soliciting sexual favors from staff and other clients at the rehabilitation center.
A number of studies replicated the observance that violent criminals’ brains showed a significant reduction in prefrontal glucose metabolism.
A study found that individuals with high psychopathy scores showed reduced activity in the amygdala during emotional, personal moral decision-making.
A couple of studies found reduced cerebral blood flow in angular gyrus of murderers and impulsive, violent criminals.
A 1998 study showed higher activation of subcortical limbic regions of two groups of reactive and proactive murderers, especially in the more “emotional” right hemisphere of the brain.
It was also found that cortisol–a major hormone in the stress response system–in both high and low levels is correlated with an increase in criminal behavior.
[34] Unlike the founding father of criminology, Cesare Lombroso, who thought that crime was fundamentally biological in its origin and criminals lacked free will altogether, contemporary neurocriminologists seem to take the middle ground approach.
"[37] US legal defense teams increasingly use brain scans as mitigating evidence in trials of violent criminals and sex offenders.
Here are some of the most famous cases: In 1991, a sixty-five-year-old advertising executive with no prior history of crime or violence after an argument strangled his wife, opened the window and threw her out of their 12th-floor apartment.
The images showed a big piece missing from the prefrontal cortex of the brain, i.e., a subarachnoid cyst was growing in his left frontal lobe.
The defense team used these images to argue that Weinstein had an impaired ability to regulate his emotions and make rational decisions.
Professor A. Raine from the University of Pennsylvania was an expert witness for defense and brought Page into a laboratory to assess his brain function.
[6] To support this idea, in a 2013 study, Professor Kent Kiehl from the University of New Mexico studying the population of 96 male offenders in the state's prisons found that offenders with low activity in the anterior cingulate cortex where twice as likely to commit an offense in the four years after their release as those who had high activity in this region.
[6] Similarly, Dustin Pardini conducted that which shows that men with a smaller amygdala are three times more likely to commit violence three years after their release.
[40] Trials demonstrated the efficacy of a number of medications, i.e. stimulants antipsychotics, antidepressants and mood stabilizers, in diminishing aggression in adolescents and children.
Variation in genes predisposes differences in biological systems and brain structure and function within individuals, influencing outcomes.
Although much research has been discovered in relation to neurocriminology, all atypical brain functions do not objectively result in deviant, criminal, or problematic behaviors.
Research has found that although an early intervention may benefit those who are at risk of violent, anti-social behaviors–especially in children and adolescents–it can adversely cause negative effects.
When stigma is associated with the labeling of mental functions, it can increase anxiety and potentially trigger the development of maladaptive cognitions and narratives.