Aberrant Brain Gray Matter in Murderers

Overview

Journal Brain Imaging Behav

Publisher Springer

Specialties Neurology
Psychology
Radiology
Social Sciences

Date 2019 Jul 7

PMID 31278652

Citations 6

Authors

Ashly Sajous-Turner

Nathaniel E Anderson

Matthew Widdows

Prashanth Nyalakanti

Keith Harenski

Carla Harenski

Michael Koenigs

Jean Decety

Kent A Kiehl

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Homicide is a significant societal problem with economic costs in the billions of dollars annually and incalculable emotional impact on victims and society. Despite this high burden, we know very little about the neuroscience of individuals who commit homicide. Here we examine brain gray matter differences in incarcerated adult males who have committed homicide (n = 203) compared to other non-homicide offenders (n = 605; total n = 808). Homicide offenders' show reduced gray matter in brain areas critical for behavioral control and social cognition compared with subsets of other violent and non-violent offenders. This demonstrates, for the first time, that unique brain abnormalities may distinguish offenders who kill from other serious violent offenders and non-violent antisocial individuals.

Citing Articles

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Cerebellar Grey Matter Volumes in Reactive Aggression and Impulsivity in Healthy Volunteers.

Wolfs E, Klaus J, Schutter D Cerebellum. 2022; 22(2):223-233.

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A multidimensional examination of psychopathy traits and gray matter volume in adults.

Miglin R, Rodriguez S, Bounoua N, Sadeh N Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2021; 17(7):662-672.

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Neuroscience, Empathy, and Violent Crime in an Incarcerated Population: A Narrative Review.

Saladino V, Lin H, Zamparelli E, Verrastro V Front Psychol. 2021; 12:694212.

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Translational Application of a Neuro-Scientific Multi-Modal Approach Into Forensic Psychiatric Evaluation: Why and How?.

Scarpazza C, Miolla A, Zampieri I, Melis G, Sartori G, Ferracuti S Front Psychiatry. 2021; 12:597918.

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