Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: About that "lead exposure caused the youth violence of the 70s-90s" research... [View all]Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)68. they correlate well though.
And there is very extensive literature on frontal lobe damage and aggression and violence.
Abstract
Knowledge stored in the human prefrontal cortex may exert control over more primitive behavioral reactions to environmental provocation. Therefore, following frontal lobe lesions, patients are more likely to use physical intimidation or verbal threats in potential or actual confrontational situations. To test this hypothesis, we examined the relationship between frontal lobe lesions and the presence of aggressive and violent behavior. Fifty-seven normal controls and 279 veterans, matched for age, education, and time in Vietnam, who had suffered penetrating head injuries during their service in Vietnam, were studied. Family observations and self-reports were collected using scales and questionnaires that assessed a range of aggressive and violent attitudes and behavior. Two Aggression/Violence Scale scores, based on observer ratings, were constructed. The results indicated that patients with frontal ventromedial lesions consistently demonstrated Aggression/Violence Scale scores significantly higher than controls and patients with lesions in other brain areas. Higher Aggression/Violence Scale scores were generally associated with verbal confrontations rather than physical assaults, which were less frequently reported. The presence of aggressive and violent behaviors was not associated with the total size of the lesion nor whether the patient had seizures, but was associated with a disruption of family activities. These findings support the hypothesis that ventromedial frontal lobe lesions increase the risk of aggressive and violent behavior.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8628458
Knowledge stored in the human prefrontal cortex may exert control over more primitive behavioral reactions to environmental provocation. Therefore, following frontal lobe lesions, patients are more likely to use physical intimidation or verbal threats in potential or actual confrontational situations. To test this hypothesis, we examined the relationship between frontal lobe lesions and the presence of aggressive and violent behavior. Fifty-seven normal controls and 279 veterans, matched for age, education, and time in Vietnam, who had suffered penetrating head injuries during their service in Vietnam, were studied. Family observations and self-reports were collected using scales and questionnaires that assessed a range of aggressive and violent attitudes and behavior. Two Aggression/Violence Scale scores, based on observer ratings, were constructed. The results indicated that patients with frontal ventromedial lesions consistently demonstrated Aggression/Violence Scale scores significantly higher than controls and patients with lesions in other brain areas. Higher Aggression/Violence Scale scores were generally associated with verbal confrontations rather than physical assaults, which were less frequently reported. The presence of aggressive and violent behaviors was not associated with the total size of the lesion nor whether the patient had seizures, but was associated with a disruption of family activities. These findings support the hypothesis that ventromedial frontal lobe lesions increase the risk of aggressive and violent behavior.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8628458
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To establish the link between frontal lobe dysfunction and violent and criminal behaviour, based on a review of relevant literature.
METHODS Articles relating evidence of frontal lobe dysfunction with violence or crime were collected through a MEDLINE search using the keyword frontal lobe combined with the terms aggression, violence, crime, antisocial personality disorder, psychopathy, impulse control disorders, and episodic dyscontrol. Reference lists were then searched for additional articles.
RESULTS High rates of neuropsychiatric abnormalities reported in persons with violent and criminal behaviour suggest an association between aggressive dyscontrol and brain injury, especially involving the frontal lobes. The studies reviewed support an association between frontal lobe dysfunction and increased aggressive and antisocial behaviour. Focal orbitofrontal injury is specifically associated with increased aggression. Deficits in frontal executive function may increase the likelihood of future aggression, but no study has reliably demonstrated a characteristic pattern of frontal network dysfunction predictive of violent crime.
CONCLUSIONS Clinically significant focal frontal lobe dysfunction is associated with aggressive dyscontrol, but the increased risk of violence seems less than is widely presumed. Evidence is strongest for an association between focal prefrontal damage and an impulsive subtype of aggressive behaviour.
http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/71/6/720.full
OBJECTIVES To establish the link between frontal lobe dysfunction and violent and criminal behaviour, based on a review of relevant literature.
METHODS Articles relating evidence of frontal lobe dysfunction with violence or crime were collected through a MEDLINE search using the keyword frontal lobe combined with the terms aggression, violence, crime, antisocial personality disorder, psychopathy, impulse control disorders, and episodic dyscontrol. Reference lists were then searched for additional articles.
RESULTS High rates of neuropsychiatric abnormalities reported in persons with violent and criminal behaviour suggest an association between aggressive dyscontrol and brain injury, especially involving the frontal lobes. The studies reviewed support an association between frontal lobe dysfunction and increased aggressive and antisocial behaviour. Focal orbitofrontal injury is specifically associated with increased aggression. Deficits in frontal executive function may increase the likelihood of future aggression, but no study has reliably demonstrated a characteristic pattern of frontal network dysfunction predictive of violent crime.
CONCLUSIONS Clinically significant focal frontal lobe dysfunction is associated with aggressive dyscontrol, but the increased risk of violence seems less than is widely presumed. Evidence is strongest for an association between focal prefrontal damage and an impulsive subtype of aggressive behaviour.
http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/71/6/720.full
Examination of mood and behaviour changes after frontal damage may contribute to understanding the functional role of distinct prefrontal areas in depression and anxiety. Depression and anxiety disorders, symptoms, and behaviour were compared in eight patients with single lateral and eight patients with single medial frontal lesions matched for age, sex, race, education, socioeconomic status, side, and aetiology of lesion 2 weeks and 3 months after brain injury. DSM IV major depressive and generalised anxiety disorders were more frequent in patients with lateral compared with medial lesions at 2 weeks but not at 3 months. At 3 months, however, patients with lateral damage showed greater severity of depressive symptoms, and greater impairment in both activities of daily living and social functioning. At initial evaluation depressed mood and slowness were more frequent, whereas at 3 months slowness, lack of energy, and social unease were more frequent in the lateral than the medial group. Patients with lateral lesions showed greater reduction of emotion and motivation (apathy) during both examinations. Medial frontal injury may fail to produce emotional dysregulation or may inhibit experience of mood changes, anxiety, or apathy. Lateral prefrontal damage may disrupt mood regulation and drive while leaving intact the ability to experience (negative) emotions.
http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/67/5/664.short
http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/67/5/664.short
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
72 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
About that "lead exposure caused the youth violence of the 70s-90s" research... [View all]
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
OP
Indeed. There are a lot of angles; one is that attributing social problems to lead exposure means
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#3
and yet, lead really is a special case, because it's most prevalent source was eliminated
CreekDog
Jan 2013
#22
"Multiple countries" = 6, all in western europe. Japan, for example, was not investigated.
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#34
Rick Nevin wants to use tax money to replace windows in REOs to increase their value to
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#37
You notice they don't cite the studies (so you can't read them); only one researcher's name is
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#6
I'd also be interested in knowing what Mielke's actually degreed in -- he got his PhD in 1972,
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#9
I thought the decrease in crime since the 90s was a function of boomers getting older
JVS
Jan 2013
#5
However, if lead exposure directly caused violent behavior at a neurological level, you'd expect
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#7
yes, i understand that men tend to be more violent than women, & young men more so than
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#46
Popular articles on such topics aren't worth much. Lead is a neurotoxin, that's not controversial.
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#11
being as the paper is from 2007, actually it is pretty new. and given the lack of similar papers,
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#16
"boys may be even more susceptible than girls...this study is the first to document a statistically
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#45
I will give it my best when I get home.... it is common knowledge that boys tend to exhibit
2on2u
Jan 2013
#29
I saw there's a new paper out about lead & ADHD too. They're hitting it hard. But it made me
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#44
Some people treat from a biochemical standpoint, take the Pfeifer Research Center for
2on2u
Jan 2013
#60
What I'm asking is, if it's so certain that lead is a leading cause of ADHD, why don't diagnosis &
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#61
Multifactorial comes to mind, some toxicity issues mimick genetic illness/syndromes, so it is
2on2u
Jan 2013
#64
If lead is supposedly a major cause, yes, it's hard to imagine why testing wouldn't be routine.
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#66
LOL. It hasn't been 'studied extensively' at all. Take your link, for example:
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#25
They did the study *because the etiology was already established*, which you keep ignoring
Recursion
Jan 2013
#33
The etiology of lead & neurotoxicity/IQ. Not violence. Violence isn't the reason they were doing
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#43
Neurotoxicity and prefrontal lobe damage can lead to aggressive and violent behaviour
Spider Jerusalem
Jan 2013
#62
key word: 'can'. not 'is' on some predictable basis. most patients with frontal lobes lesions
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#65
lol. you post random research you haven't read & pretend you know what you're talking about.
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#71
I'm all for getting the lead out of toxic sites, reducing smelter emissions & similar projects.
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#32
It doesn't say anything significant about lead as a causal factor in violent crime, because the
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#26
I read part of that article before. I also happen to be fairly confident there is only one
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#42
Lead is a well-known neurotoxin. The research on links to violence is minimal, correlative only,
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#30
The research on lead and 'anti-social behavior' going back to the 50s is weak (as might be guessed
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#41
It's not just inner-city housing he's talking about. It's any/all bank-owned property that could
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#38
I agree, it bears looking into. And I agree, the evidence tying the correlation to levels of
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#40
I would too, except that in this case this particular author appears to be cited in nearly every
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#54
he's not doing meta-analysis. there isn't even enough in the literature for it. He's
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#56
More like selective review of the (limited) literature. Though I question any lit review that cites
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#59
actually, no, there were more whites in a lot of those urban areas, most notably nyc. if lead
HiPointDem
Jan 2013
#48