Julian C. Motzkin, Joseph P. Newman, Kent A. Kiehl, Michael Koenigs. Reduced Prefrontal Connectivity in Psychopathy. Journal of Neuroscience, 2011; 31 (48): 17348-17357 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4215-11.2011
Psychopaths in jail have wobbly white matter between the brain region associated with a moral center (ventromedial prefrontal cortex) and the brain region associated with animal spirits (the amygdala) resulting in lack of coordination between the two areas. (Press release via U of Wisconsin, here).
Julian C. Motzkin, Joseph P. Newman, Kent A. Kiehl, Michael Koenigs. Reduced Prefrontal Connectivity in Psychopathy. Journal of Neuroscience, 2011; 31 (48): 17348-17357 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4215-11.2011
Well now. We’re taking this opportunity to gloat – we called it back in the quaint year of 2008, when January was our “White Matter Month,” to wit our post: “Do Psychopaths Dream?”, followed up by our post, Psychopaths, platypus, mammalian infants – REM sleep but no dreams may indicate white matter disconnect.
Now that the science is becoming a consensus, and we can see if someone is biologically similar to known psychopaths, doesn’t that call for additional diligence by boards of directors? We think the D&O liability insurance companies should step it up. Figure out if having a psychopathic CEO is a risk or not.
Here’s the way to sell this:
- Medical science tells us there is an inherited/familial/intergenerational, permanent, genetic organic basis for self-harming behaviors.
- The self-harming behaviors are symptoms of these brain impairments, and not the underlying disease.
- Are the leaders/BOD of any business liable to apply the latest medical knowledge to individuals at risk of harm to themselves and others? Are they liable if they see symptoms and do not use the latest medical knowledge which, thanks to the web, is now freely available to all stakeholders.
What do you think the lawyers will demand? hmmm?
sr – Until Board of Directors actually have liability under Delaware law, which will be never, the D&O liability insurance industry has no financial motivation. Once the “business judgment” rule is cracked open so that fraud is what it is, then maybe the insurers and re-insurers will have some motivation.
Right, no threat of liability, no action. But, this information is now publicly available, the behavior and syndrome does pose a threat to shareholders and stakeholders. This is also medical fact now.
Think, if you are damaged, wouldn’t you sue on this basis? Ask your lawyer friends.
This seems sensible: http://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/12/07/psychopathy.a.misunderstood.personality.disorder
Demonizing anyone or thing just blocks problem-solving.
I coudn’t Agree more, this is very entertaining and will definitely be back for more, Keep it UP!
funni, thatz wot me wife sayz 2……..(sorry couldn’t resist)
[...] matter” sounded better in that context, though. For more on white matter, see the Neurological Correlates [...]
[...] Reduced Prefrontal Connectivity in Psychopathy (Nov. 2011) Here Related, great post by Neurological Correlates, We called it: Psychopath brain disconnects and reduced functions Here [...]