Hormone linked to anti-social behavior

CAMBRIDGE, England, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Researchers at England's University of Cambridge say they have discovered a link between reduced levels of a stress hormone and anti-social behavior in males.

Levels of the stress hormone cortisol usually increase when people undergo a stressful experience, such as public speaking, taking an exam, or having surgery. Cortisol enhances memory formation and is thought to make people behave more cautiously and to help them regulate their emotions, particularly their temper and violent impulses.

Dr. Graeme Fairchild and Ian Goodyer recruited participants for the study from schools and the youth offending service, who took part in a stressful experiment that was designed to induce frustration. Samples of saliva were taken immediately before, during and after the experiment to track how cortisol changed during stress.

The differences between participants with severe anti-social behavior and those without were most marked under stressful conditions. While the average adolescents showed large increases in the amount of cortisol during the frustrating situation, cortisol levels actually went down in those with severe anti-social behavior.

"If we can figure out precisely what underlies the inability to show a normal stress response, we may be able to design new treatments for severe behavior problems," Fairchild said in a statement.