A new study led by researchers from Germany has discovered that psychopaths share distinct similarities in their brain structure, which could significantly contribute to our understanding of this personality disorder. The study, published in the European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, compared brain scans of 39 male psychopathic subjects with those of male volunteers without the condition.
According to the researchers, psychopathy is a significant risk factor for serious and persistent violence, as indicated by three scores on the Psychopathy Check-List (PCL-R). The study found that while there were slight differences in brain structure corresponding to one of these factors, it was the second factor – which measures impulsive and antisocial behavior – that revealed significant reductions in certain brain regions.
These regions, including the pons part of the brainstem, the thalamus, basal ganglia, and insular cortex, play a crucial role in controlling involuntary actions, emotional processing, and decision making. The researchers discovered that psychopathic subjects had brains approximately 1.45 percent smaller than those of control subjects on average.
While the study’s findings are promising, it is essential to note that this was a relatively small-scale study with limited diversity in subjects. Further research is necessary to gather more data and identify potential causes and effects.
The discovery highlights the importance of understanding psychopathy and its relationship with brain structure. With further studies, researchers hope to develop more effective treatments for individuals with psychopathic personalities.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/scans-reveal-what-the-brains-of-psychopaths-have-in-common