Evidence is converging that neural substrates play an important role in explaining variations in antisocial behavior. Because of its role in the regulation of fear and other emotional memory and response, the amygdala is importantly related to psychopathy; callous-unemotional traits; and the vibrant, neuroscience-based investigations of the etiology of antisocial behavior. Without question, the amygdala is the key brain structure mediating defensive behavior in stages of fear and anxiety, is involved in instrumental learning and aversive conditioning, and is activated in responses to fearful and sad facial expressions. Future criminological research and theorizing would benefit from approaches that link criminal behavior and its immediate milieu with important underlying neural substrates, such as the amygdala, making it possible to tie the intersection of brain and behavior to genetics research and the study of environmental risk pathogens across time. A greater understanding of this brain region can shed meaningful light on understanding the etiology of antisocial behavior, and perhaps, why some offenders are successful at desisting from crime and other are not. Figures and references