Brain stain: Evil incarnate?

(PET Image of Brain)

Forget the Devil.  According to Fox News, German neurologist Gerhard Roth has found what he calls an "evil spot" in the human brain, which he claims is a "genetic source for violent behavior."

Roth came to this conclusion via a series of experiments with "violent convicted offenders."  His study, which "was conducted for the German government," involved the showing of violent film scenes to these offenders.  The section of the brain that would generally react to such violence showed none of the activity that is usually associated with "compassion and sorrow."  Roth therefore called this the "dark spot" within their brains.  Roth stated that this "is definitely the region of the brain where evil is formed and where it lurks."

There are many theologians who would disagree with this strictly-biological pronouncement about the nature of evil.  There are also some scientists who heartily beg to differ.  Fox News offers this quote from Dr. Steven Galetta, Chairman of the Neurology Department at the NYU School of Medicine:  "People look at the blood flow to one area [of the brain] and they say, 'aha, this is the evil patch.'  It's probably a lot more

complex than that…  it's probably not as simple as X marks the spot for a particular behavior."

Dr. Terre Constantine, Executive Director of the Brain Research Foundation, also "expressed skepticism" about Roth's conclusion.  She too indicates that evil cannot be pinned down to one particular spot.  Her quote:  "This may be one of the spots [in the brain], but I'd be surprised if it were the spot."

And the Devil?  Perhaps he's laughing all the way to the lab and back…           

  

Resources

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/02/07/is-there-dark-evil-spot-in-brain/

Copyright March 5, 2013 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved