Introduction
Brunner syndrome is a recessive X-linked disorder characterized by impulsive aggressiveness and mild mental retardation associated with MAOA deficiency. According to Brunner, it is a rare genetic disorder with a mutation in the MAOA gene (monoamine oxidase A gene). It is characterized by lower than average IQ (typically about 85), is a problematic impulsive behavior (such as arson, hypersexuality and violence), is also a sleep disorders and mood swings. Brunner syndrome was first discover by Hens G. Brunner; his findings has been used to argue genetics, and the behavior can cause criminal activity. Evidence supporting the genetic defense stems from both Brunner’s findings and a series of studies on mice have proven correlation
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Brunner and his colleagues, and upon the discovery of a particular genetic defect in male members of a large Dutch family. In this large Dutch kindred, Brunner et al. (1993) identified a novel form of X-linked nondysmorphic mild mental retardation, and he found that all of the male family members with this defect reacted aggressively when angry, fearful, and frustrated. All the affected males in the family showed characteristic abnormal behavior, in particular aggressive, and sometimes violent behavior. These males in the family displayed mild impairment of cognitive functions and some types of abnormal impulsive behavior which includes arson, attempted rape, and exhibitionism. Even attempted suicide was reported in a single case. The defect discovered was later found to be a mutation in the gene that codes for monoamine oxidase A (MAOA gene). Brunner showed that in the affected males there was a mutation in the gene for the enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAOA). The enzyme deactivates the hormones and neurotransmitters epinephrine and norepinephrine, more commonly known as noradrenaline and adrenaline. At this time, Brunner said that an "MAO-A deficiency is associated with a recognizable behavioral phenotype that included disturbed regulation of impulsive aggression. The transmission pattern of Brunner syndrome in the families reported was consistent with X-linked recessive inheritance. A man with Brunner syndrome is what expert psychiatrists refer to as “a bad guy.”
Signs and Symptoms of Brunner Syndrome
Aggression may be associated with other symptoms that are determined by the underlying disorder or illness. Ailments that influence behavior often also have psychological, cognitive, and physical symptoms. Some additional signs and symptoms may include:
• Aggressive
In Holland, male members of a certain family were found to be prone to violent outbursts; one male, criticized by his employer, attempted to run him over with a car - another raped his sister and was sent to a mental hospital - a third coerced his sister into undressing by threatening her with a knife. Such men display retarded motor development, difficulties in task planning, and awkward sexual behavior. (1). Recently, researchers claimed to have found the basis of such aggressive behavior to genetic sources - specifically, a deficiency in the MAOA gene of these males (2).
Volkows, N. D., & Muenke, M. (2012). Human Genetics. The genetics of addiction, Vol 131(6), 773-777. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00439-012-1173-3
... variant of MAOA that exhibit deficiencies is the MAOA-L. MAOA-L predisposes a person to psychopathic traits. However, there has to be something that triggers that gene. Moreover, males are more likely to have it than females, which would explain why psychopaths are mostly male.
Some factors that are explored in studies involves the genetics in a person, how parents treat their children, influences peers have and the situations that a person may experience throughout their childhood and adult life. There is a possible connection between the feelings of anxiety, aggression and fear with a genetic makeup in a person’s body (Huff, 2004). Research has even shown that if an individual was abuse, whether physical or verbally they are at risk for developing a personality disorder as well (Huff, 2004). Another interesting study conducted by Robert Krueger, PhD, exploring the influences that can contribute to the development of a personality disorder, looks at studying personality traits within identical twins who did not grow up together. In the study, it appeared that genetics contributed more to a person personality trait then the environment they were in. Krueger opinion was that “The predominant reason normal and abnormal personality are linked to each other is because they are linked to the same underlying genetic mechanisms” (Huff,
This book is partly a psychiatric textbook and partly a self-help book. It reviews the biology, psychology, and genetics of different personality disorders, such as narcissism, paranoia, antisocialism, and obsessive compulsive. The author, Stuart C. Yudofsky MD, graduated with an MD from Baylor College of Medicine. His practice focuses in two areas: psycho-pharmacology and neuropsychiatry. He is the D.C. of the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences of Baylor College of Medicine and the chairman of the Psychiatry Department of The Methodist Hospital. The publisher, American Psychiatric Pub., is a global publisher of books, journals, and multimedia on psychiatry, mental health and behavioral science.
There are many people with this illness that is quite hard to diagnose. Unfortunately, these people are seeking a little kindness and attention, while, in the meantime, they are at possible risk to themselves. Most of the studies show that the cause of onset of this disorder begins with the patient’s childhood and being abused or rejected.
Stochholm, K., A. Bojesen, A. S. Jensen, S. Juul, and C. H. Gravholt. "Criminality in Men with Klinefelter's Syndrome and XYY Syndrome: A Cohort Study." BMJ Open 2.1 (2012): E000650. Print.
The million-dollar question that circulates in the minds of many which clearly led to continuous research by neuroscientists. Jim Fallon on a Ted Talk dated July 16, 2009 openly expressed his discovery that damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which deals with emotional responses and decision making can ultimately lead to changes to an individual’s personality marked by poor judgement and impulsive choices. Therefore, these functions are similar to a light switch which can either be turned on or off and as explained by Mr. Fallon it is increasingly difficult to cure such damage to the brain. Interestingly, he went further to single out a particular gene known as MAOA which is considered to be a high-risk gene. Jim Fallon made that point to say that mutation of that gene can result in problematic behavior which is the case of many serial killers, therefor there is sufficient evidence to prove nature as a factor (Fallon,
To think how far we have come with medicine and technology is astounding. Looking into the biological model of abnormalities we learn that the focus is to connect a medical prospective to the variations in abnormal behavior. The text uses the case of Philip Berman, a person who exhibits a wide range of emotion when triggered with certain topics. In this case researchers are looking to find a glitch between his body chemistry and his behavior. The question here is: Can there be a connection between imperfect organisms within the body which in turn display abnormal behavior? We learn from the text that the brain has many parts that are designed to specific duties. If one of the nerves or cells is faulty, can it somehow be tied to the way a person acts? The answer is yes. We know that abnormal behavior is not just that of a mental disorder, and we know that certain chromosomal disorders have been proven to cause abnormalities within the human body. In Philip’s case, it is not necessarily a behavior that we know could be caused by a glitch in the system. We learned many facts about his life that can play a role in the way he carries himself. If we were looking into his genetic inheritance we might ask questions like the genetic makeup of the family history (i.e. has there been a history of mental disorder in the family?). Was Philip used to being an only child for so
Childhood aggression is a very important part in the process of growing up for a child because this is a behavior that the child goes through and it might be a bad behavior for some but in reality this behavior can also be a normal one. The aggression can come from different factors such as the parent being aggressive with the child like playing wrestling or throwing him around. The second factor would be that the child is seeing a lot of violence at home like parents arguing or dad hitting mom while screaming. The third factor can come off their social experiences like at school when they see other kids being rough with other kids. Seeing how other children behave in school can influence their behavior. For example, if another child is playing
Subsequently, since discovering that both biological and sociological aspects both play a part in human behavior, studies began to formulate to see whether nature or nurture held a stronger influence. Two of the main studies done were the family and twin studies. Family studies are defined as “studies that examine the clustering of criminality in a given family” (Schram, P. J., & Tibbetts, S. G.). One of the families that was studied was the Kallikak family by H. H. Goddard. Through this study they found criminality is more common in some Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain and body that help transmit electric signals from one neuron to other neurons in the body.
In all of these possibilities--instinct, heredity, hormones, or brain dysfunction--the aggression occurs without apparent provocation from the environment (although there is almost always a "target"). According to some of these theories, the need or urge to be aggressive is boiling within each of us and seeks opportunities to express itself. There is also clear evidence that alcohol consumption and hotter temperatures release aggression, but no one thinks there is something in alcohol or heat that generates meanness. The socialization process, i.e. becoming a mature person, involves taming these destructive, savage, self-serving urges that probably helped us humans survive one million years ago but threatens our survival today.
...fers low levels of monoamine oxidase enzyme, thus predisposing the individual to criminal behaviour (Lee).
...dgkinson C, Raymont V, Ferrier C, et al. Prefrontal cortex lesions and MAO-A modulate aggression in penetrating traumatic brain injury. Neurology. 76(12):1038-45 (2011).Van Erp AM, Miczek KA. Aggressive behavior, increased accumbal dopamine, and decreased cortical serotonin in rats. Journal of Neuroscience. 20(24):9320-5(2000).Vrontou E, Nilsen SP, Demir E, Kravitz EA, Dickson BJ. fruitless regulates aggression and dominance in Drosophila. Nature Neuroscience 9, 1469 - 1471 (2006).)
can lead to long term mental health issues, often times worse than aggression. In early childhood,