[Press Release] New evidence on the biological basis of highly impulsive and aggressive behaviors
This raises an interesting question, if those convicted of crimes should not be punished due to their biology, should they just be set free? Or should they be required to undergo therapy/treatments that might not be evidence-based? Or are other alternatives available?
For want of a receptor: Some behaviors shaped during early development
SAN DIEGO — Physical and chemical changes in the brain during development can potentially play a role in some delinquent and deviant behaviors, according to research released today. Studies looking at the underlying mechanisms that influence our ability to exercise self-control were presented at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world’s largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Understanding the impact of changes in specific prefrontal regions during brain development could lead to new treatments and earlier interventions for disorders in which impulsivity plays a key factor. The research may have implications for understanding and dealing with aggressive and troublesome behaviors.
Today’s new findings show that:
- The absence of serotonin receptors during early development leads to highly aggressive and impulsive behaviors in mice. Impulsivity, but not aggression, returns to normal levels by reintroducing the receptors (Katherine Nautiyal, PhD, abstract 754.07, see attached summary).
- Adolescents react more impulsively to danger than adults or children, and the prefrontal cortex works harder to exert control over impulsive responses to threatening cues (Kristina Caudle, PhD, abstract 852.14, see attached summary).
Other recent findings discussed show that:
- Weak control of the brain’s prefrontal cortex (which monitors personality, decision-making, and self-restraint) over regions associated with reward and motivation could explain the lack of self-control experienced by anti-social individuals (Joshua Buckholtz, PhD, presentation 194.01, see attached speaker summary).
- Criminal defendants increasingly use brain science to explain their actions, pointing to brain scans and the scientific literature for evidence that brain impairments affect behavior. This is impacting how the legal system assigns responsibility and punishment for criminal wrongdoing in the United States (Nita Farahany, JD, PhD, presentation 301, see attached speaker summary).
“Our deeper understanding of the origins of delinquent behavior can be a double-edged sword,” said press conference moderator BJ Casey, PhD, of Weill Cornell Medical College, an expert in attention, behavior, and related brain disorders. “While we’re making tremendous gains in neuroscience that should lead to improved treatments, our biological insights also have implications for criminal cases and the judicial process that we need to understand.”
###This research was supported by national funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, as well as private and philanthropic organizations. More information about behavior and the brain can be found at BrainFacts.org.
Related articles
- New evidence on the biological basis of highly impulsive and aggressive behaviors (eurekalert.org)
- New evidence on the biological basis of highly impulsive and aggressive behaviors (medicalxpress.com)
- Neuroscience criminal defense emerges: ‘my brain made me do it’ (rawstory.com)
- Brain stimulation affects compliance with social norms (medicalnewstoday.com)
- Study Shows How Brain of Gambling Addicts Work (medindia.net)
- US courts see rise in defendants blaming their brains for criminal acts (theguardian.com)
[Reblog] A Workplace Counters Ageism – National Institutes of Health
Just had to repost this. Last week at the Area Office on Aging (where I volunteer 6 hours or so a week), one of my clients was a 70 year old woman. She voiced much of what the woman below said, including feeling unwelcome. And this after 30+ years with the company! Maybe all workplaces should have time to read and discuss the article below…Multigenerational Teams Work best.
Thank you Marti Weston, thank you.
From the 13 November 2013 post by Marti Weston at As Our Parents Age
Last Thursday, on the Washington DC Metro, a woman sitting in front of me spoke to a seat mate about ageism, a term first coined by Dr. Robert Butler, the first director of the National Institute of Aging (NIA).
As I eavesdropped, the woman on the Metro spoke about comments from younger colleagues, the tendency of some to roll their eyes when she speaks, and remarks about her retirement, still about five years away if she waits until she is 65. “I feel so unwelcome,” she commented,” that sometimes I make jokes about my own retirement just to counteract what I hear.”
Yet as the conversation went on — my apologies for listening in — it was clear that this woman loved her job and was engaged in her work. Lots of people in their late 50s and 60’s can identify with this situation.
So I read with interest the November 10, 2013, Washington Post article, In an Era Plagued by Ageism, NIH Prizes Older Workers. Written by Post reporter Tara Bahrampour, the report details how the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has created a work environment that accepts — and even celebrates — its older and veteran staff members. The article also includes a link to the AARP 2013 list of best employers for people over age 50.
A Few Interesting Excerpts
- This year, NIH topped AARP’s list of best employers for workers over 50, based on criteria including career development opportunities, workplace accommodations, flexible scheduling, job sharing and other employee benefits.
- NIH offers perks with particular appeal for older employees, including flexible work schedules, generous telecommuting policies, opportunities to mentor younger workers and fitness programs geared for older bodies.
- The benefits were not part of a master plan but rather something that evolved, said Phil Lenowitz, deputy director of NIH’s office of human resources.
- A big draw for scientists such as Waldmann is the ability to view a project in terms of decades, rather than years.
Read the entire article to learn much more.
A Few More Links Where You Can Learn About Ageism
- Dr. Robert Butler, Founding Director of the National Institute on Aging – July 2010, AsOurParentsAge
- Multigenerational Teams Work Best – June 2011, AsOurParentsAge
As summed up by Marti –
Two broad reasons that a variety of age groups work together well and produce better results are:
- Every generation has its blind spots so the different ages and perspective help to avoid problems and compensate for them.
- Each generation can shine based on individuals’ experience.
- Ageism in Action – September 2013, Huffington Post,
- Readers Offer Tales of Silicon Valley Ageism – August 2013, SF Gate (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Ageism and Millennials – Part I and Part II – Dr. Bill Thomas’ Changing Aging blog
- Ageism in America – 2006, A PDF of a comprehensive report published by Dr. Robert Butler and the International Longevity Center (also founded by Dr. Butler).
Related articles
- Raising Awareness about Ageism through Art ! (sharingconnection.wordpress.com)
- Ageism in the Workplace: A Growing Issue (mtannler.wordpress.com)
- Ageism: the Silent Killer (veteranstoday.com)
- Why the Tech Industry Needs to Deal With Its Ageism Problem (simplicity.laserfiche.com)
- Tapping into the Creative Potential of our Elders (3quarksdaily.com)
- Why Old Age Is Really Not For Sissies (agelessmarketing.typepad.com)
- Ageism: Its Effect On Seniors (awalker20099.wordpress.com)