Neurogenesis in Prison Reform
By: Jordan Elise
Tags: Medicine, Prison Reform, Neuroscience, Social Justice, Social Change

Restorative justice is no easy feat to tackle but Dr. Reisel offers a glimmer of hope in a changing new approach to prison reform.

With attention being drawn to the executive branch within the US, change within the prison system has been a long-standing social issue in need of reform. By better understanding the neuroscience behind some individuals effected by the prison system, specifically clinical psychopaths, we can begin to implement changes that would be most beneficial in providing these individuals the means to have a chance at recovery and reform. This study addresses the social environment created within the prison system and the linkage it plays in behavioral neuroscience, a new approach many haven’t heard.

Dr. Reisel’s talk was built around understanding the balance of nature vs. nurture in our behavior and specifically applying this to the prison system. To begin explaining his side, Dr. Reisel presents the idea that clinical psychopaths can recognize emotions the same as neurotypical individuals, however they lack the biochemical change present in their brain that would result in a resonating feeling.

To this fact, Dr. Reisel began studying the neuroscience and correlated behaviors of high-profile inmates with this condition. What Dr. Reisel concluded is that the human brain can still be molded late into adulthood. He explains the logic of neurogenesis, the fact the adult brain can learn and change, and the key factor being that neurogenesis is halted by stress and antisocial climates. In animal studies, neuroscientists have found when raised together mice develop normal social behaviors and become aggressive and antisocial when housed individually.

The correlation here suggests the isolation and stressful climate of the prison system only reinforces the negative, unwanted social behaviors of inmates. This reinforcement through solitary confinement and intense stress prevent inmates from having healthy neurological function and regeneration which would ultimately aid in their growth and recovery.

Isolated prison cells have negative effects on neurogenesis and healthy brain functioning.

Now, Dr. Reisel makes it clear having group therapy and a personally decorated cell will not prevent the actions that lead these inmates to their current situation. He rather states that incorporating reformative techniques centered around social interaction and learning may have a significant chance at lowering reoffending rates and offer inmates a change at a behavioral and neurological level that would be more conducive to long term change than the current system in place.

From a sociology standpoint, Dr. Reisel’s findings are very similar with the sociological labeling theory. It addresses the concept of social influence on behaviors marked deviant. Once an individual is deemed deviant by society, they are more likely to continue acting out acts of deviance. This study is similar in the sense the prison system reaffirms the negative behaviors of inmates through inherently negative social conditioning thus continuing to aid the repetition of negative behavior.

To see change it is important to understand just how important social surroundings and interactions can be to our development. Maybe within the justice system understanding neurogenesis will take us one step closer.