Who we are and why we formed. ------------------- Feedback - Email us.

Neuro-Science, Neuro-Psychology & Media Standards

"Brain imaging tools are now available to interrogate the Human Brain in ways only dreamt of 10 years ago" - Professor Richard Davidson (Neuro-Scientist University of Wisconsin).

The Emigdula - the "Fight or Flight" reactor of the Brain (Dopamine & Adrenaline)

The Emigdula is a small round nodule located deep within the centre of the human brain and is a leftover relic of our primal past. It controls large burst of hormones and neuro-chemicals into the systems of our body. It does not think.....it is just a reactor that reacts to the following situations:-

• Sometimes there is Danger (Actual - e.g. Fear of Sabretooth Tiger attack).
• Sometimes there is no Danger (Actual - e.g. Fear in watching a Horror Movie).
• Persons are being mistreated (Spur - e.g. Being Tailgated or impeded by a vehicle changing lanes).

The "un-controlable" reaction from the emigdula to any of the 3 types of situations is a primal panic......BOOM!!!.....and a sudden release of powerful Hormones and Neuro-chemicals instantly flooding all systems of our brain an body, among them:-

• Dopamine - a Neuro-chemical greatly sharpening the speed of reactivity of the Brain by enhancing the neuron firing rate.
• Adrenaline - Increases the blood pumping rate from 4 to 20 litres per minute (within seconds) and diverts blood from the skin and organs into the muscles. It is characterised by a warm feeling and tingling on the lips (Note: Prolonged adrenaline levels can damage the synapses of the Brain).

The Pre-Frontal Cortex - Control over the "Fight or Flight" reaction (via Ceratonin)

The Pre-Frontal Cortex (shown in blue) is the thinking part of the brain located just behind the forehead. It is the most recent development in the evolution of the human brain that is designed to exercise control over primal reactions the Emigdula. It does this by releasing:-

• Ceratonin - a powerful and CRITICALLY IMPORTANT neuro-chemical that mediates the effects from the Emigdula's reaction & release of Dopamine. It allows the Pre-Frontal Cortex "time to think" about:-
  • the perceived danger at hand (real or imagined).
  • the perceived mistreatment at hand (real or imagined).

Recently Science and new brain scanning technologies have shed new light on the several factors that have been shown to influence the release of Ceratonin. These new discoveries are:-

• Professor Richard Davidson a Neuro-Scientist at the University of Wisconsin studied 2 and 3 year olds that were not yet socialised to inhibit their expression of anger. His work discovered that very small areas in the Pre-Frontal Cortex were crucial in allowing us to regulate control over anger and allowing an appropriate response.
• Professor Adrian Raine a Psychologist at the University of Southern California followed this work with "confidential" brain scanning of successful socio-paths (those never caught) who had a clear anti-social personality disorder charactorised by agression, impulsivity and a lack of remorse. This group was examined in "the ideal location" - downtown Los Angeles and included Bank Robbers, Rapists and Murderers. Professor Raine found that this group had an 11% reduction in volume of grey matter (neurons) compared to normal people. He also took the research one step further by scanning the structure of the brains of 44 actually convicted murderers. He found that there was a VAST lack of activation and blood flow into the areas Professor Richard Davidson had found in the Pre-Frontal Cortex when compared to normal people. Amazingly, there was NO lack of blood flow or activation of the visual cortex when compared to normal people.
• The US National Institute of Health's study on violence found a powerful link between impulsive violence and the brain chemical ceratonin.
• Professor Emil Coccaro a Neuro-Scientist found that ceratonin was a behavioural inhibitor/mood stabilizer that mediated the effects of Dopamine, reducing the neuron firing rate. He concluded that the Ceratonin "gives the Pre-Frontal Cortex time to think".

Parental Guidance and the Cortex "Wiring-up" Process - Critical to Early Childhood Development

Professor Dee Higley decided to look into genetic pre-dispositions to these ceratonin discoveries by studying social interactions with our nearest relatives, a group of proboscis monkeys. After doing exhaustive work with DNA extraction and genotyping he found a "Transporter Gene" that regulates ceratonin levels in these parts of the brain. He found 2 types of the Transporter Gene were common in populations, a short chain and a long chain Transporter. He also found that the long chain Transporter gene produced much higher levels of ceratonin in the brain. CRUTIALLY he found that the genetic effects of agression were NOT ALWAYS pre-disposed in the short chain Transporter gene group of individuals. So what on earth was going on??

• Professor Higley's studies found when the youngsters were raised by loving mothers, then no agressive behavour was found in individuals who had either the long or the short chain Transporter Gene.
• However, when youngsters were raised by their pier groups (Little Parental Guidance) then the short chain Transporter Gene group grew up to be EXTREMELY VIOLENT AND AGRESSIVE INDIVIDUALS. (Note:- Children from broken homes are well known to "seek out" violent material in Games, Films and DvD's).

So why was Parental Guidance so important? He found that good mothering and Parental Guidance actually helps form "Ceratonin Pathways" in the growing brain. He also found that this may be as simple as a "clip on the ear" in monkeys as a reminder/punish inappropriate behaviour and to reduce the arousal levels of Dopamine. This is termed the Cortex "wiring up" process and is CRITICAL to early childhood learning experience. Parental Guidance builds strong Ceratonin pathways in the growing brain that will last a lifetime.....by the human age of 4. So does this process apply to Humans....you bet!!

The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study

Dr Ritchie Poulton is in charge of the longest running and largest study in the world on the effects of the Health and Development of Children. The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study was constituted when participants were aged 3 and consisted of a cohort of consecutive births between April 1972 and March 1973 in the town of Dunedin in New Zealand. The cohort was representative of the full range of socio-economic status of the general population of New Zealand's south island. Comprehensive follow-ups have been carried out at ages 3,5,7,9,11,13,15,18,21 and most recently at age 26. DNA extraction and genotyping was carried out in the most recent follow-up. Samples were taken from the 953 individuals which represented 97% surviving to this age and of the group 51% were male and 49% female. Childhood maltreatment during the first decade of life (age 3 - 11) had been ascertained. The possible mediating impacts of low or high IQ were tested against enzymatic activity of ceratonin levels. Regression analysis found no significant linear association between low or high ceratonin and IQ level or maltreatment and IQ. Anti-social behavioural outcomes were measured from independent data sources in adolescence and in adulthood at ages 11,13,15 & 18. A "lifetime" conduct disorder was diagnosed if there was a persistent pattern of behavior that violated the rights of others, including physical harm, measured according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). According to the DSM, conduct disorder is not usually diagnosed after the age of 18. For the ages greater than 18, Court records for violent convictions were searched from the Australian and New Zealand Police. About 11% of males had 174 convictions for violent crimes (e.g. Common and agravated assault, weapons injury, domestic violence, manslaughter and rape). Symptoms of Anti-social personality disorder were also ascertained by questionaire and by psych interview.

This ongoing study has found that the 26 year olds had:-

• The MAOA Gene was found to regulate brain Ceratonin levels.
• About 11% of males had adult convictions for violent crimes.
• No significant linear association between low or high ceratonin/IQ levels or maltreatment & IQ levels.
• Poor Parental Guidance, abuse or mistreatment to children did NOT correlate to violence in later life.
• Poor Parental Guidance, abuse or mistreatment to children + a low MAOA Gene activity (low ceratonin level) DID CORRELATE to violent behavior in later life.......IN 85% OF CASES!!
• The violent behavoural lineage could be followed down through previous generations.

From the information above it should seem fairly obvious just how important Parental Guidance is. Without it, youngsters and teenagers born with a defective MAOA gene (resulting in low Ceratonin levels to counteract the Dopamine & Adrenaline rush instigated by the Emigdula). They WILL become EXTREMELY VIOLENT AND AGRESSIVE INDIVIDUALS, well known to actively seekout what has been termed "toxic entertainment" in violent Games, Films, DvD's & Music.....but this is not the end game.....it's just the beginning!!

Your comment is important to us.....Email

viewers@mediastandards.org