Final answer:
Alterations in the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus are neural structures that may be altered in psychopaths, affecting emotion regulation, impulsivity, and fear processing.
Step-by-step explanation:
In psychopaths, one might expect to see alterations in neural structures associated with emotional processing and impulse control. Research points to key areas such as the prefrontal cortex, responsible for planning and judgment, showing changes that affect personality and behavior. Studies such as by Fung et al. (2005) indicate reduced electrodermal activity, suggestive of a dampened fear response, often seen in psychopaths.
The amygdala, part of the limbic system, is essential for emotion regulation and forming emotional memories. In psychopathy, this structure may have functional differences, which impacts the processing of fear and aggression, as demonstrated in the work by Hare (1965). Additionally, the amygdala's interaction with mood and anxiety disorders hints at its potential role in the psychopathic patterns of behavior.
Furthermore, hippocampal alterations in structure and function, usually linked to mood and anxiety disorders, could also be associated with psychopathy. The aggregate evidence suggests that deviations in these neural structures are critical for understanding the biological underpinnings of psychopathic traits.