JAMES W. PRESCOTT, PH.D
1140-23 Savannah Road
Lewes, DE 19958
302.645.7436
jprescott34@comcast.net
http://www.violence.de
http://montagunocircpetition.org
19 July 2009
Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville Pike, Building 1
Bethesda, MD 20892-2152
Dear Dr. Collins,
You are to be congratulated on being nominated to become the Director, National Institutes of Health by President Barack Obama. The scientific community will be looking forward to successful Congressional actions on your appointment.
There are many urgent and unsolved health problems of this nation, chief of which is the poor understanding why and how homo sapiens has become the most pathologically violent and destructive primate on this planet. I addressed this issue before in my letter to you of 4 March 2003 that requested information on the status of the Bonobo genome, which is the most peaceful, non-violent primate on the planet, enclosed. Comparisons to Homo sapiens are obvious and instructive. I have not received a reply to this request and would appreciate a reply.
I am writing you on a related matter and that is the recent launching of the Human Connectome Project that seeks to unravel the Brain’s connections. I have been concerned with the problem of brain interconnectivity for most of my professional life, primarily with respect to how and why individuals become peaceful or violent individuals.
Table 1 illustrates how Pain and Pleasure during the formative periods of brain development shapes the brain for peaceful or violent behaviors and is attached for your review. There is a substantial scientific literature that supports such a conceptual schema and it is to this problem, which I am requesting action by the NIH Human Connectome Project.
Attached are documents that establish sexual dimorphism in the developing human brain from evidence of lateral skull X-rays taken from ages 6-76 years. This is clear and unambiguous evidence that the female brain evidences greater brain interconnectivity between the cerebellum and frontal lobes than exists with the male. Dr. Heath and myself specify the various brain pathways with supporting scientific evidence, which requires confirmation utilizing modern brain imaging technologies.
A second body of data describes the conditions that generate peaceful or violent cultures that are based upon the research findings of The Harlows, Mason and Berkson, Riesen and many other behavioral primatologists which document that mother-infant/child separations result in depression, anger/rage and pathological violence, as juveniles and adults. The violence of the adult rhesus primates deprived of mother love can be seen in the enclosed photo collage and DVD with the elimination of that violence by paleocerebellar but not neocerebellar decortication.
These established relationships in infrahuman primates were confirmed by my 49 tribal culture study where 80% of the peaceful or violent nature of the cultures could be accurately predicted
from the measure of maternal-infant/child bonding by the infant being carried on the body of the mother throughout the day for the first year of life. The dependent variable was “torture, mutilation and killing of enemy captured in warfare”, the most violent measure in Textor (1967) and the Ethnographic Atlas. The “exceptions” could be accounted for by whether youth sexuality was permitted or punished. 100% predictability was obtained from two measures of human affectional bonding during the formative periods of development.
These cross-cultural studies were extended to evaluating the role of breastfeeding bonding and I discovered that 77% (20/26) of cultures whose weaning age was 2.5 years or longer were absent or low in suicide. The exceptions could be accounted for whether pain was inflicted upon the infant by cultural rituals. Again, the 77% prediction of suicide was raised to 82% by whether youth sexuality was permitted or punished. See attachment.
This weaning age study was expanded to incorporate the 186 additional cultures on weaning age by Barry and Paxon (1971). By combining the Textor and Barry and Paxon samples, a total of 65 cultures were obtained that had information on weaning age and suicide. These data are summarized in Table 3 which found that 86% (31/36) of cultures that had low or absent suicide rates had a weaning age of 30 months or greater. 66% (19/29) of cultures with high suicide rates had weaning age of 24 months or less.
These data support the conclusion that weaning age of 2.5 years or greater is a necessary but insufficient condition to prevent suicide, a major mental health problem of modern cultures. It should be noted that about 10% of tribal cultures breastfeed for 12 months or less compared to 93.2% of American mothers who breastfed for 12 months or less (NHANES 111 data)- National Health and Nutrition Survey Examination 1988-1994. See attachment.
It is predicted that there is a greater brain interconnectivity in young adults who have been breastfed for 2.5 years or greater than those who: 1) have never been breastfed and otherwise not abused/neglected; and 2) those who have never been breastfed and with a history of abuse and neglect.
The same brain developmental issues surround the genital mutilation of children where this perinatal trauma inflicts excruciating pain on helpless infants that damages the genital sensory projection fields and associated neural networks that interferes with the neural circuitry of affectional bonding. Assessment of brain injury and impairment in the genitally mutilated children, as adults, is a moral and scientific necessity, as is the failure of maternal-infant/child bonding.
The failure of the NIH to address the most significant developmental and mental health problems of this nation, specifically, violence is affirmed by its failure to implement the recommendations of the NIH sponsored conferences on violence in 1994 and 2004; and its poor support (0.5%) of the total NIH budget, as noted below
The April 1994 NIH Report of the Panel Findings and Recommendations, stated:
1. “NIH Research on Antisocial, Aggressive, and Violence-Related Behaviors and Their Consequences”, stated: “With the exception of the National Institute on Mental Health (NMH), violence research has not been a major priority at NIH (25)” (p.75);
2. Appendix F: “devoting as much money to peace studies as to studies of violence (46)”. This is the only reference to Dr. Prescott’s extensive testimony. No mention of the history of NICHD research on child abuse and neglect nor the developmental origins of violence (p.121) was found;
3. Summary September 22-24, 1993 meeting: 2nd paragraph: “To date, investment across all Institutes and ICDs in violence-related research has been minuscule relative to the total NIH budget (i.e. 0.5%) (p.138). (See attachment)
Concerning the NIH Conference: "Preventing Violence and Related Health-Risking Social Behaviors in Adolescents: An NIH State-of-The Science Conference." (October 13-15, 2004). My submitted statement: "NIH Violence Research: Is Past Prologue? Lessons Learned From 1994-2004", attention was drawn to the critical role of breastfeeding bonding for the prevention of violence, particularly suicide, which deprives the developing brain of critical nutrients (physical and emotional) for brain neurotransmitter development (Tables 2 and 7); and supporting cross-cultural data on weaning age 2.5 years or greater with low or absent suicide. (Table 3).
http://www.violence.de/politics.shtml
My call to implement the WHO/UNICEF recommendations to breastfeed for “two years of age or beyond” was ignored (1990 Innocenti Declaration).
http://www.violence.de/prescott/letters/WHO_Innocenti_Declaration.pdf
None of the Fifteen recommendations have been implemented in this NIH Conference on Violence 2004; nor the recommendations of the prior April 1994 published conference were acknowledged.
The magnitude of violence in human societies, particularly sexual violence, calls out for the confirmation of the impaired brain interconnectivity outlined in this letter and enclosures by the NIIH Human Brain Interconnectivity project. PREVENTION is the only certain path to correcting our pathologically violent cultures.
You are aware that I was Health Scientist Administrator, Developmental Behavioral Biology Program, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (1966-1980) before I was unlawfully terminated, which will be the subject of my next communication to you.
Attached are two copies of the DVD: “The Origins of Love & Violence: Sensory Deprivation and the Developing Brain”, which contains a comprehensive history of the scientific and political issues of profound neglect and betrayal of the mission of the NICHD by NIH/NICHD officials since Dr. Norman Kretchmer assumed the position of Director, NICHD in 1974.
I am copying this letter to Marilyn Fayre Milos, R.N, Director, NOCIRC; to Professors Emeritus Edward F. Zigler and Lewis P. Lipsitt and Michael Mendizza, Director, Touch the Future, who have a concern and knowledge about these issues.
Your attention and action with respect to these issues is requested.
Sincerely,
James W. Prescott, Ph.D.
Cc: Professor Emeritus Edward F. Zigler, Yale University
Professor Emeritus Lewes P. Lipsitt, Brown University
Marilyn Fayre Milos, R.N. Director NOCIRC
Michael Mendizza, Director, Touch the Future.
Enclosures:
1. NIH NEWS Human Connectome Project 7.15.09
2. Letter to Dr. Collins, 3.4.03
3. Two Cultural Brains, 6.13.02; 2005
4. Sexual Dimorphism In The Developing Human Brain
5. Neural Pathways and Structure in SSAD Theory- 1970 ff
6. Platelet Serotonin In Disturbed Monkeys and Children, 1971
7. Effect of Cerebellar Lesions on Emotional Behavior, 1974
8. Infant Physical Affection & Adult Violence, 1975
9. Weaning Age, Suicide, Infant Pain & Youth Sexuality, --26 Cultures, 1996,2001, 2005
10. Weaning Age and Suicide—65 Cultures 2001, 2005
11. NIH Research Conference on Violence, April 1994
12. NIH Research Conference on Violence, October 2004
13.WHO/UNICEF Innocenti Declaration 1990
14. Photo Collage of Violent Mother Deprived Monkeys
15 DVD: The Origins of Love & Violence: Sensory Deprivation and The Developing Brain.
NIH Lt Collins Enclosures 7.19.09
1. NIH NEWS Human Connectome Project 7.15.09
http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jul2009/ninds-15.htm
2. Letter to Dr. Collins, 3.4.03
http://www.violence.de/prescott/letters/COLLINS.html
3. Two Cultural Brains, 6.13.02; 2005
http://www.violence.de/prescott/letters/Our_Two_Cultural_Brains.pdf
4. Sexual Dimorphism In The Developing Human Brain
http://www.violence.de/prescott/ssss/paper.pdf
5. Neural Pathways and Structure in SSAD Theory- 1970 ff
http://www.violence.de/prescott/letters/Neural_Pathways_and_Structures.pdf
6. Platelet Serotonin In Disturbed Monkeys and Children, 1971
http://www.violence.de/coleman/article.html
7. Effect of Cerebellar Lesions on Emotional Behavior, 1974
http://www.violence.de/berman/article.html
8. Infant Physical Affection & Adult Violence, 1975
http://www.violence.de/prescott/bulletin/article.html
9. Weaning Age, Suicide, Infant Pain & Youth Sexuality, --26 Cultures, 1996,2001, 2005
http://www.violence.de/prescott/appp/ald.pdf
http://www.violence.de/prescott/politics-trust.pdf
10. Weaning Age and Suicide—65 Cultures 2001, 2005
http://www.violence.de/prescott/appp/ald.pdf
http://www.violence.de/prescott/politics-trust.pdf
11. NIH Research Conference on Violence, April 1994
http://www.violence.de/history/coverup.html#19790615
12. NIH Research Conference on Violence, October 2004
http://www.violence.de/politics.shtml
13.WHO/UNICEF Innocenti Declaration 1990
http://www.violence.de/prescott/letters/WHO_Innocenti_Declaration.pdf
14. Photo Collage of Violent Mother Deprived Monkeys
http://www.violence.de/prescott/pis/1977paper.pdf
15 DVD: The Origins of Love & Violence: Sensory Deprivation and The Developing Brain.
BIOBEHAVIORAL SYSTEMS
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Woodsedge Drive
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607.533.9105
jwprescott <jprescot@twcny.rr.com>
http://www.violence.de
http://ttfuture.org/Prescott
http://montagunocircpetition.org
5 March 2003
Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
Director
National Human Genome Research Institute
National Institutes of Health
Building 31, Room 4B09
31 Center Drive, MSC 2152
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892-2152
Dear Dr. Collins,
The DHHS has announced that the NHGRI is undertaking the study of the bovine genome, as it has special interest to the commercial cattle industry. Of greater importance is the decision to include the chimpanzee in your genome investigations, a recommendation that I made in 1993 before the NIH Panel on Violence and Aggression, as it would contribute to our understanding of the pathology of human depression and violence that threatens our species survival. However, it is not clear which chimpanzee you intend to study--the common chimpanzee (Homo troglodyte) or the bonobo chimpanzee (Homo paniscus) or both.
As you may be aware, the bonobo chimpanzee--our closet genetic relative (1% DNA difference)--is the most peaceful and non-violent primate on this planet, whereas, Homo sapiens is the most violent primate on this planet. It is highly unlikely that a 1% difference in DNA can account for this enormous difference in peaceful and violent behaviors in these two primate species. However, it would be important to know what this 1% of DNA difference represents and how it is distributed on the various chromosomes that would give some insight into gene functionality. Such knowledge could give a final resting place to the extreme claim that genetics are a primary determining factor for peaceful and violent behaviors. [DNA estimates derived from Jared Diamond, The Third Chimpanzee (1992).
As De Waal and Lanting (1997) noted in Bonobo: The Forgotten Ape:
Had bonobos been known earlier, reconstruction of human evolution might have emphasized sexual relations, equality between males and females, and the origin of the family, instead of war, hunting, tool technology, and other masculine fortes. Bonobo society seems ruled by the "Make Love, Not War" slogan of the 1960s rather than the myth of a bloodthirsty killer ape that has dominated textbooks for at least three decades" (p.2).
Hrdy (1999), in Mother Nature, has noted the following in Great Ape mothering:
Great Ape mothers carry their infants wherever they go. Fathers, by comparison, are rarely in direct contact with babies" (p.205)…the infant's entire world was its mother. (p. 98)… and
…no wild monkey or ape mother has ever been observed to deliberately harm her own baby"(p.179). Emphasis added.
What has happened along the evolutionary trail where infanticide and harm and injury to the young have suddenly appeared in the Great Ape Mother Homo sapiens? Why is sexual abuse of the prepubertal young unknown in the primate evolutionary record but is common in Homo sapiens? Are these questions that genetics can illuminate or answer when no behaviors exist in the infrahuman record for these specific human maternal and paternal behaviors and, presumably, no genes that could support such behaviors? Or does it take specific environmental factors to activate inactive genes that mediate either peaceful or violent behaviors?
There are extensive scientific data that the primary causes of peaceful and violent behaviors are environmentally induced through the encoding of the developing infant/child brain for such behaviors. Some of this core data can be found at the above listed websites and you may find of interest the enclosed essay “How Culture Shapes the Developing Brain & the Future of Humanity” that provides an alternative thesis to genes in shaping peaceful and violent behaviors. The enclosed video documentaries make clear how infant/child rearing practices influence the developing brain for peaceful or violent behaviors and the published cross-cultural data are supportive of these findings.
The determination of the bonobo chimpanzee genome that could be compared to the human genome would be an invaluable contribution to clarifying the role of genetics in peaceful and violent behaviors and the role that the environment has in the regulation of gene expression for these behaviors, if such genes can be found. Is this subject matter a priority for your genome studies and will it be a part of your April 2003 program- A Celebration of the Genome: 50 Years of DNA: From Double Helix to Health?
Sincerely,
James W. Prescott, Ph.D.