alphonse
Jedi Master
James Fallon is on BBC Radio 4 Programme "All in thr Mind" at 9pm BST tonight, Tuesday 26t April
Might be worth a listen?
Al
American neuroscientist James Fallon talks to Claudia Hammond about his own personal journey of discovery about the nature of criminal brain. With his expertise in neuroanatomy, James Fallon was often asked to analyse and interpret the brain scans of convicted murderers in legal cases. Neuroimaging studies have shown that psychopaths often have differences in brain structure and functioning to normal people.
Knowing his professional interest in the criminal brain, his mother then told Professor Fallon about a dark ancestral streak in his father's side of the family. Genealogical detective work uncovered 8 murderers and alleged killers in one branch of the family tree - including Lizzy Borden (who was accused but acquitted of the axe-murders of her father and step mother).
The opportunity to have his own brain scanned then came up. James Fallon was unnerved to discover that aspects of his own brain functioning had marked similarities to those of psychopath he had studied. Adding to the alarm were results of some subsequent genetic tests.
A number of genes have been linked to aggressive and violent behaviour. One of these has been nick-named the 'warrior' gene. The gene makes a brain chemical called monoamine oxidase A, MAO-A. There are different versions or 'flavours' of this gene. James Fallon turned out to have the version which has been most strongly correlated with violent behaviour in some studies. Professor Fallon says that in a sense, he's a born killer.
However, Professor Fallon's discoveries about himself have had a profound effect on his thinking about the roots of psychopathy and violent behaviour. He used to be a strong advocate of the power of genes on human nature and behaviour. Now, he's convinced that his childhood and upbringing made all the difference in who he is.
Might be worth a listen?
Al