Does this mean we are doomed?

[[Pl...]]

Thank you photobug

[[Ph...]]

Robert Sapolksy absolutely floored me in one of his interviews when he mentioned that the size of rat amygdalas (the brain structure that controls anxiety/fear/anger responses) is larger in rats whose mothers were subjected to great stress during gestation.  Gene expression is altered in the fetus, resulting in baby rat with a large, more reactive amygdala!!  If this effect exists in humans (I see no reason why it wouldn't), the implications for mental health would be huge.  And, assuming the epigenetic effect doesn't recede over time and that baby grows up to be a violent, reactive adult and commits a crime, is he responsible for that crime?

 

(One of the many reasons why I've totally changed my views on incarceration as "punishment" and capital punishment.)