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General Short news
NIJMEGEN – The Science Café will hold an event on Monday 6 March with a lecture and discussion about psychopathy. Guests are Robbert-Jan Verkes (Radboud University & Pompe Foundation) and Josanne van Dongen (Erasmus University) and there will be live music by Penvriend.
The meeting is in The Shamrock at Smetiusstraat 17 in Nijmegen. Starts at 8:00 PM. Free entrance. Language of instruction Dutch.
Psychopathy has a pop culture image of violence and crime, but research shows that this doesn’t always have to be the case. Psychopaths are good at reading other people and assessing what they are going to do. They are also known to be less empathetic, but are good at manipulating others. Can these characteristic features be traced back to differences in the brain? Possibly psychopaths learn differently than non-psychopaths, or are there differences in sensitivity to reward and punishment? It is known that there is a hereditary component to psychopathy, but what other factors might contribute to its development? And what is known about effective treatments for people whose lives are affected by their psychopathy?
Robbert-Jan Verkes and Josanne van Dongen, experts in forensic psychology, discuss recent developments in neurobiological research into psychopathy on Monday evening 6 March. Verkes connects findings from scientific research with the clinical practice of forensic psychiatry. Among other things, he studies punishment and aggression, looking at specific brain regions such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. His work as a psychiatrist also allows him to share vivid examples of the treatment of psychopaths.
Van Dongen investigates the psychopathic personality and how it relates to aggression. By means of electrophysiology and brain modulation techniques, she maps the psychopathic brain and also looks at the role of empathy. She uses these neurobiological insights to develop interventions against aggression.
During this evening, Penvriend will break the tension and provide a feel-good mood with their dreamy indie-folk.
www.sciencecafenijmegen.nl