新奇事件簿 研究表明罪犯的大脑体积较小

A new study has found that antisocial people are more likely to have smaller areas of their brain. Researchers said criminals' brains had a different structure to the brains of people who followed the law. The study is published in the journal¹ "Lancet Psychiatry²". Researchers used data from 672 people born in 1972-73. They looked at records of the people's antisocial behaviour between the ages of seven and 26. At the age of 45, the researchers scanned³ the people's brains. Eighty of the people had a history of criminal and antisocial behaviour from being early teenagers. Researchers found that the areas of the brain linked to emotions, motivation and behaviour control were smaller in the long-term criminals' brains.

一项新的研究发现，反社会的人更有可能拥有更小的大脑区域。研究人员表示罪犯的大脑和守法者的大脑结构不同。该研究出版于《Lancet Psychiatry》期刊杂志。研究人员使用了672名出生于1972年到73年间人的数据。研究人员查看了这些人在7岁至26岁之间的反社会行为记录。在45岁的时候，研究人员扫描了他们的大脑。其中80人从青少年时期就有犯罪和反社会行为的历史。研究人员发现，在长期罪犯的大脑中，与情感、动机和行为控制相关的大脑区域更小。

Professor Terrie Moffitt, a co-author of the research, said the research could help doctors understand what is behind long-term antisocial behaviour. She said the antisocial people in the study may have behaved badly because of their brain structure. She said: "They are actually operating under some disability at the level of the brain." She added that because of this, we needed to care for these people in a kinder way. Lead author Dr Christina Carlisi said: "Differences in brain structure might make it difficult for people to develop social skills. This may prevent them from engaging in antisocial behaviour. These people could benefit from more support throughout their lives."

该研究的联合作者Terrie Moffitt教授表示该研究可以帮助医生理解长期反社会行为背后的原因。她说道，该研究中的反社会者可能因为他们的大脑结构而表现不良。她称：“他们实际上是在大脑某个层面不足的情况下做出这些行为的。”她还补充道，因此，我们需要更友善地照顾这些人。第一作者Christina Carlisi博士说到：“大脑结构的不同可能让人们更加难以发展社会技能。这可能会阻止他们从事反社会的行为。给他们更多支持，他们一生都能受益其中。”

1 journal   

n.日志，日记；议事录；日记帐；杂志，定期刊物

参考例句：

• He kept a journal during his visit to Japan.他在访问日本期间坚持记日记。
• He got a job as editor of a trade journal.他找到了一份当商业杂志编辑的工作。

2 psychiatry   

n.精神病学，精神病疗法

参考例句：

• The study appeared in the Amercian science Journal of Psychiatry.这个研究发表在美国精神病学的杂志上。
• A physician is someone who specializes in psychiatry.精神病专家是专门从事精神病治疗的人。

3 scanned   

经（擦伤仪）仔细检查的

参考例句：

• He scanned the horizon for any sign of land. 他仔细眺望地平线，找寻陆地的踪影。
• She scanned his face to see if he was telling the truth. 她审视着他的脸，看他讲的是否是真话。