Paris, March 15: The brains of psychopaths could be hardwired to seek reward even when the consequences are life-threatening to others or themselves, according to a study released on Sunday.
A naturally-occurring chemical, dopamine, plays a key role in some forms of pathologically violent behaviour and drug addiction, the study found.
Previous research has focused on what psychopaths tend to lack – fear, empathy and the ability to maintain normal relationships.
But a team led by Joshua Buckholtz of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee examined what there is too much of, namely impulsiveness and an extreme attraction to risk-taking and rewards.
“Lack of sensitivity to punishment and a lack of fear are not particularly good predictors of violence or criminal behaviour,” said colleague and co-author David Zald.
—Agencies