World of Psychology

First evidence of brain abnormalities found in pathological liars

By John M. Grohol, PsyD
Founder & Editor-in-Chief

First evidence of brain abnormalities found in pathological liars

A University of Southern California study has found the first proof of structural brain abnormalities in people who habitually lie, cheat and manipulate others.

While previous research has shown that there is heightened activity in the prefrontal cortex – the area of the brain that enables most people to feel remorse or learn moral behavior – when normal people lie, this is the first study to provide evidence of structural differences in that area among pathological liars.

The research – led by Yaling Yang and Adrian Raine, both of the USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences – is published in the October issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry.


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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 30 Sep 2005
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.

APA Reference
Grohol, J. (2005). First evidence of brain abnormalities found in pathological liars. Psych Central. Retrieved on February 14, 2012, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2005/09/30/first-evidence-of-brain-abnormalities-found-in-pathological-liars/

 

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