Biological differences in the brain found in psychopaths: Study

People with larger striatum are more likely to exhibit impulsive and sometimes psychopathic behaviour, which includes anti-social and egocentric traits, a study has found. Researchers noted that a region of the forebrain, known as the striatum, was on average 9 per cent larger in psychopathic individuals compared to a control group who had low or no psychopathic traits. The striatum coordinates multiple aspects of cognition such as decision making, and the forebrain controls the display of emotions, motor functions and is the centre of language, intelligence and thinking. The team comprised neuroscientists from NTU, the University of Pennsylvania and California State University.

Not all criminals are psychopaths as well, and legal action is only taken on those whose psychopathic traits have led them to engage in criminal activities, Asst Prof Olivia Choy, who is from NTU's SSS, said on Tuesday (May 10). "There is clear evidence that psychopathy is linked to more violent behaviour," Prof Choy, a neurocriminologist who co-authored the study, added. As for curbing aggressive and impulsive tendencies before people turn to criminal acts, Prof Choy said that one line of research involves looking at safe, non-invasive ways, such as via nutrition. “Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help the development of the prefrontal cortex – the frontal part of the brain – which is related to impulse control,” she said.

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Photo: NTU