Orbitofrontal Cortex and the Serial Killer According Essay

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Orbitofrontal Cortex and the Serial Killer

According to Portales, "what lies behind the eyes" of the serial killer "is the key to his psychopathy." The orbitofrontal cortex is the neural region directly behind the eyes and is the last to develop. Portales quotes authoritative research that, due to childhood traumatic experiences, in some individuals the ortbitofrontal cortex -- the tool judgment and decision making -- may never completely develop: "individuals who have had damage to [this] area can observe social situations, but fail to respond to these situations in an appropriate manner." Damage can be caused through various factors including head trauma, physical abuse, emotional neglect, and antisocial parenting, many, if not all of these, introduced early in the child's development. What happens as a result is stagnated prefrontal development where emotion overrules reasoning and individuals give in to their craving.

In the case of the sexual predator, for instance, the phenylethylamine (PEA), a neurotransmitter that normally creates the romantic rush felt upon attraction, helps him select his victim and drives him to consummation of act. A healthy individual can control this neurotransmitter, analyzing his object of attraction and waiting until new spurts of the PEA arrive.

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Serial killers, however, whose ortbitofrontal region is destructed, cannot. That this is so was evidenced by a 2004 study on rats with orbitofrontal cortex lesions that were unable to resist choosing the greater reward even when this reward was accompanied with punishment. The condition is similar to a hunger where continuous eating does not allay the hunger. The murderer, similarly, impelled by an immature region that arouses an insatiable hunger for 'cannibalism (in a different sense) is compelled to consistently eat in order to satiate his hunger. Prison, therefore, argues Portales, ironically aggravates rather than lessens the possibility of the murderer continuing his crimes once released. Prison serves as an interval for repose. Release sees ignition of desire and once again the 'monster' endeavors to satiate his urge. Indeed, therefore, nothing can be done to reform the molester….....

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"Orbitofrontal Cortex And The Serial Killer According", 14 August 2011, Accessed.21 May. 2025,
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