Is there an 'evil spot' in the brain ?

Posted on Monday, 11 February, 2013 | Comment icon

Image credit: Andrew Mason

A German neurologist believes he has pinpointed the area of the brain responsible for violent behavior.

Professor Gerhard Roth performed a number of experiments in an effort to determine if there was a specific part of the brain responsible for the types of behavior exhibited by criminals such as thieves, rapists and murderers. By measuring the brain activity of known offenders while showing them a number of different videos, Dr. Roth was able to locate what he calls the 'evil spot' in the brain, a genetic source of violent behavior.

"Whenever there were brutal and squalid scenes, the subjects showed no emotions," he said. "In the areas of the brain where we create compassion and sorrow, nothing happened. This is definitely the region of the brain where evil is formed and where it lurks and where it lurks."

After studying the brains of violent killers, rapists and robbers, German neurologist Gerhard Roth claims to have found a “dark patch” in the center of the brain.

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Source: Fox News

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#17 Posted by Hasina on 11 February, 2013, 19:06

Misspellings are what lurk in the hearts of men.

#18 Posted by Hasina on 11 February, 2013, 19:09

I doubt there's one 'spot' for 'evil' and 'god'. We're the sum of our parts, not itemized parts of 'good' and 'bad' jammed together into a fleshy body. Well, okay, we kinda are, but these 'good' and 'evil' things? Why, they're just chemical reactions in the body due to stimuli, if you want to give these actions any more worthy meaning like a morally good action or an evil one, be my guest, but I don't think we'll ever get rid of our 'evil' to lazily languish in the 'good'.

#19 Posted by CrimsonKing on 11 February, 2013, 19:28

When thinking of good vs bad i think bruce lee said it best "The perfect way is only difficult for those who pick and choose.Do not like do not dislike;all will then be clear.Make a hairbreadth difference and heaven and earth are set apart;if you want the truth to stand clear before you,never be for or against.The struggle between "for" and "against" is the mind's worst disease" This is how i see it anyways.

#20 Posted by Lava_Lady on 12 February, 2013, 3:26

I think people can become desensitized to screen violence. Measuring braing activity while watching violence on screen is probably not that great of an indicator since a lot of people now days actively participate in very realistic violence in video games and violent movies are grosser than ever... under the guise of horror (that's not horror, that's just gore). Anyway, need a better test.

#21 Posted by CrimsonKing on 12 February, 2013, 4:33

Agreed lava but i think any testing for violence is almost pointless.I train and teach getting punched,kneed,elbowed,kicked,picked up and slammed on a daily basis yet most people who actually know me say im one of the nicest,laid back,calm people they know.When i watch horror movies i dont just start armbaring,punching and whatever else to people in the same room haha.Think violence these days has more to do with how people are raised,but that's just my opinion.

#22 Posted by Hasina on 12 February, 2013, 12:59

[u]Brain Area 'Where Evil Lurks' Doesn't Exist: Neurologist[/u] http://www.livescience.com/26918-gerhard-roth-brain-area-evil.html

#23 Posted by 95-Nasty on 12 February, 2013, 15:22

Isnt that just instinct? 'Mans' will to survive as it is in the animal kingdom! As we advance/ evolve we become can so say become 'evil'! But surly its just evolution and man advances in science etc?

#24 Posted by R4z3rsPar4d0x on 13 February, 2013, 19:29

Eh. I think this is a broad generalization because everybodys brain is different, thats why we have Einsteins and George Bushes, there both thinking on two different levels. If this is correct it would mean that everybody is essesntially the same, which I dont believe. Now there may be dark spots in the brain that contribute to evil behavior and what not but I dont think all the evil that a person does can be contributed to one spot in the brain. Also I can eat a full meal while Im watching zombies rip someones flesh from the bones, or leatherface sticking a chainsaw through someone. Tha... [More]

#25 Posted by Sean93 on 14 February, 2013, 5:42

I am as God made me. Now there's a defense I could get use to.

#26 Posted by theSOURCE on 14 February, 2013, 6:33

Ahhhh! Now that really hit the spot.

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