Structural Brain Imaging Correlates of Crime

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

Neurocriminology aims to apply neuroscience principles and techniques to aid our understanding of the causes and cures of crime. A key technique in this subfield of criminology is brain imaging. This methodology, compared to other biological and genetic research on crime, has been greatly under-represented at panels at ASC. The aim of this panel is to address this gap by presenting new research on the structural brain imaging correlates of antisocial and criminal behavior. It aims to cover different forms of antisocial behavior, ranging from white collar crime to blue collar crime, reactive / proactive aggression, antisocial personality disorder, and psychopathy. The first presentation aims to extend the only prior brain imaging study of white collar criminals by comparing this group to blue collar criminals and controls. The second presentation examines two different forms of aggression – reactive and proactive aggression – which are rarely if ever studied within criminology. The third examines a psychiatric construct – antisocial personality disorder – and how it differs to psychopathy. Was Lombroso right in believing that the brains of offenders are physically different to our own? How can such differences be interpreted? And what wider implications may be drawn for the field of criminology?

Sub Unit

• Area III: Perspectives on Crime and Criminal Behavior / 1: Biological, Bio-social, and Psychological Perspectives

Individual Presentations

• Brain Correlates of White Collar Crime - Shichun Ling, University of Pennsylvania; Adrian Raine, University of Pennsylvania; William Laufer, University of Pennsylvania; Robert Schug, California State University, Long Beach; Yaling Yang, Children's Hospital Los Angeles / University of Southern California

• Structural Correlates of Reactive and Proactive Aggression - Rebecca Umbach, University of Pennsylvania; Adrian Raine, University of Pennsylvania; Yaling Yang, Children's Hospital Los Angeles / University of Southern California

• Structural Striatal Abnormalities and Antisocial Personality Disorder - Olivia Choy, University of Pennsylvania; Adrian Raine, University of Pennsylvania; Yaling Yang, Children's Hospital Los Angeles / University of Southern California

Chair

• Yaling Yang, Children's Hospital Los Angeles / University of Southern California