NEUROSCIENCE: CHANGING THE BRAIN CAN CHANGE SOCIETY 4

Neuroscience: Changing The Brain Can Change Society

Kelly Tallent

LAS 45012– Global Issues in Liberal Arts

Professor Todd Holbert

Ottawa University

January 28, 2015
Introduction

Neuroscience: Changing the Brain can Change Society

In 1966, a twenty-five-year-old, ex-Marine killed seventeen and wounded thirty-two in a mass shooting at the University of Texas. This was after he murdered his wife and mother earlier in the day. Police gunned downed this man, Charles Whitman, on the University campus after the mass killing. This example is important to mention since Whitman left behind a suicide note that would be helpful in the study of the brain and criminal behavior. Whitman wrote that his own behavior baffled him has he seemed to be “an average, reasonable and intelligent man” (Kluger , 2013). He asked that any of his leftover estate go to research that might prevent other similar tragedies. An autopsy found a “tumor and a vascular malformation pressing against his amygdala” (Kluger , 2013). The amygdala is an almond-shaped gray mass involved with the experiencing of emotions. Science is now asking if changing the brain can change the criminal mind.

Neuroscientist, Daniel Reisel, is “a research fellow in epigenetics at University College London” (Reisel, 2013). He is from Norway, but settled in the UK, where he is exploring the possibilities of brain re-growth and the potential in restoring morality and rehabilitation in criminal behavior. In Wormwood Scrubs, a high security prison in London, Reisel studied the brains of a group of psychopaths. They were the most callous and aggressive group of the entire prison. An fMRI on each of these inmates showed a deficiency of the amygdala, “which likely led to their lack of empathyand to their immoral behavior” said Reisel, as he illustrated in a TED Talk (Reisel, 2013). He explains how acquiring moral behavior is a part of growing up. He demonstrates how toddlers imitate parents as part if developmental growth and empathy. This same progression happens regardless of culture or part of the world a child lives. He believes “this strongly suggests that the foundations of moral behavior are inborn” (Reisel, 2013). This is another indication of a thread that binds us together as one human race across the globe. Somewhere along the line there is a cause that separates those with criminal minds and those who continue to develop in empathy and make positive moral decisions.

Dr. Reisel points out that while troubled childhoods can shape these behaviors, his team and their examination revealed that these prisoners had a common deficit within the brain. The underlying question resonates; can the human brain change? He states, “Neuroanatomists and later neuroscientists held the view, for over 100 years, that after initial development in childhood, no new brain cells could grow in the adult human brain” (Reisel, 2013).

However, Elizabeth Gould, lead in research, showing evidence that the brain could produce new brain cells (neurogenesis). The observations based on the psychopathic prisoners, prompted Dr. Reisel to do further studies of mice in an isolated environment versus a social environment made up of a large habitation in order to determine neurogenesis. Those in the larger habitat showed evidence of developing brain cells. By contrast, those who were in seclusion had drastically lower levels of new brain cells, showing odd and aggressive behaviors. With this information, Reisel is optimistic that human nature can change. He parallels human prisoners to the mice in the antisocial, separated conditions.

Other research has determined that the minds of criminals are different through brain scans. An article in Live Science reported a study showing significant reduction in volume in the brain’s frontal lobe in those classified antisocial. The article also mentioned another brain study, comparing 27 psychopaths to 32 non-psychopaths, revealing an average of 18% reduction of the amygdala (Moskowitz, 2011). This consistency in neuroscientific research, paired with the relatively new acknowledgment of brain plasticity, brings a hope that these situations may not be static; that criminal behavior is not “fixed” (Moskowitz, 2011).

Dr. Caroline Leaf is a cognitive neuroscientist. Her scientific philosophy is that God is the Creator of the Universe; therefore the Author of science. She also explains, “There is mounting recent evidence for Neuroplasticity, that is, the ability of the Brain to change according to experience” (Leaf, n.d.). In light of the 1990’s discovery of neurogenesis, she believes that thinking can change our brain. She also considers this to be in line with Biblical teaching. She is a scientist that bridges the gap between science and faith.

The implication of this focus seems within reach to help combat crime. As Daniel Reisel ends his TED talk, he encourages a global alliance in a desire to see rehabilitation as a tangible thing. His hope is to see this as a huge societal change and something that is in all of our best interest.

Conclusion

This observation of the Science/Description breadth, spanned over Sweden, Norway, The UK, America and more. While there are hurdles to cross over legal, ethical and societal, this concept might be the beginnings of amazing universal change in rehabilitation in the criminal mind. It is an idea that could be beneficial around the world as it continues in progression. I have added to my critical thinking in this area after learning more about neurogenesis. I am more optimistic about the potential for change in the future. I am also excited to have found more resources for expanding my own brain cells.

References

Kluger, J. (2013, May 3). The Evil Brain: What Lurks Inside a Killer’s Mind | TIME.com. Retrieved January 31, 2015, from http://science.time.com/2013/05/03/evil-brain/

Leaf, C. (n.d.). Scientific Philosophy | Dr. Caroline Leaf. Retrieved February 1, 2015, from http://drleaf.com/about/scientific-philosophy/

Moskowitz, B. (2011, March 4). Criminal Minds Are Different From Yours, Brain Scans Reveal. Retrieved February 1, 2015, from http://www.livescience.com/13083-criminals-brain- neuroscience-ethics.html

Reisel, D. (2013, February 1). Transcript of "The neuroscience of restorative justice" Retrieved January 31, 2015, from https://www.ted.com/talks/daniel_reisel_the_neuroscience_of_restorative_justice/transcri pt?language=en#t-63806