Reduced Frontal-lobe Activity And Impulsivity May Be Linked To Alcoholism Risk
Science Daily — Increased impulsivity, or a lack of impulse control, is a key characteristic of many psychiatric disorders, including alcohol dependence. Recent studies suggest that increased impulsivity is involved in a predisposition to developing these disorders. A new study of brain processes provides support for this theory.
"Altered impulsivity is a prominent manifestation in many disinhibitory psychiatric disorders, such as alcohol- or substance-related disorders, conduct disorder, attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), antisocial personality disorder (ASP), bipolar disorder, impulse control disorders, and so on," said Bernice Porjesz, professor and director of the Henri Begleiter Neurodynamics Laboratory at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. "Individuals suffering with these disorders may frequently and unpredictably act without planning in advance or without regard to the negative consequences of their behaviors, which in turn can result in serious aftermath. In severe cases, it may lead to danger to the patient or to others."
Porjesz added that the majority of psychiatric diseases are "complex diseases," meaning that their development is influenced by an underlying biological susceptibility of genetic factors, environmental factors, and interactions among multiple genes and the environment.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070103201533.htm Are People Predisposed to Commit Crime?
Studies of the brain have recently shown us that youth lack a fully developed prefrontal cortex, and thus are unable to calculate risk and consequence fully. This may be why teenagers engage in so many risky behaviors, and their so-called rebellious rite of passage may simply be the cause of an undeveloped brain.
More current neurological studies back this scientific claim in an interesting way. Science is now questioning the basis of free will in general, as studies show that the human mind is cognizant of making decisions only after the brain has already begun carrying out these decisions. While I have no intention to debate the matter of free will through this blog, I would like to dissect the argument as it relates to crime and crime prevention.
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the British government is already contemplating a law that would allow the imprisonment of people who have mental disorders that could make them likely to commit a crime (never mind that they have yet to commit one). While this seems like a scene out of the movie Minority Report or a George Orwell novel, what does this mean for human rights, crime prevention, and prisoner rehabilitation?
http://ncpc.typepad.com/prevention_works_blog/2007/01/predisposed_to_.htmlSo, are you, have you ever been, or will you or your children be... incarcerated before committing any crime?
All risk takers, watch out, and, as an added bonus, the insurance companies would like to get rid of you.
EDIT: cut extraneous line