Orbitofrontal Cortex and the Serial Killer According

¶ … 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. 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 except to incarcerate him for life for the protection f society. Reform is particularly unrealistic given the reality of the neural region to regenerate lost capabilities.

In his deterministic stance, Portales decrees that the killer is born so, regardless of ability and desire to be or do otherwise and will continue so until he dies. The early patterning, in fact, can be predicted from a trio of characteristics: enuresis at an inappropriate age, cruelty to children and/or animals, and pyromania. The future killer is unable to control his bodily functions, soiling and urinating upon himself even in company. Torture of animal's and/or humans will always remain a thrill to him, his underdeveloped orbitofrontal cortex desiring more and more, whilst starting fires relieves tension and provides gratification. Akin to an addiction, the immature ortbiotfrotnal cortex drives the man to his destruction invariably, simultaneously, killing and causing untold suffering to numerous others. Unable to control his decision-making abilities, the murder foolishly returns to the scene of his crime despite the knowledge that it is being watched or that they are under surveillance. Feeling no fear of punishment, the person not only develops an antisocial personality but feels nor remorse or fear for consequences of his crime, their actions, therefore, governed by their emotion of the moment. Realizing the responsibility of the ortbitofrontal cortex to the epidemic of killings and molestation, instead of insisting on free choice, can prevent -- so urges Portales -- countless suffering by indicating the most effective means to deal with this kind of monster. Urge to kill may be caused by character, nature, and environment but given the irreversible hand of nature, recognition that the killer is forced to kill by virtue of his brain should direct legal sentencing and judgment and help us decide how to best prevent this scourge from occurring in society.