Is there an inherent disparity between the brains of criminals versus law-abiding citizens? According to brain scans conducted by The Mind Research Network in Albuquerque, N.M., indeed there is.
In an attempt to discover the truth, these scientists did what any prudent researcher would do – they rounded up a bunch of criminals and scanned their brains. No worries, these offenders, 96 in total, volunteered for the study.
When imaging these brains using MRI, researchers zoomed in on a particular region, the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Normally, this area regulates your impulsive behaviour, response selection, and avoidance learning. Essentially, it’s like having your mother whispering in your ear that bad things will happen if you don’t follow the rules. It turns out that criminals who had low blood flow to this area were twice as likely to reoffend when compared to their counterparts with high ACC activity.
So what does this mean for society? Well, the hope is that future offenders will be able to undergo rehabilitation and therapy customized to their unique needs. Turns out there are some benefits to that nagging voice that never fully leaves your head.
