Brain Abnormalities in Youths Who Commit Homicide

A new study suggests that adolescents who have committed one or more homicides have significantly different brain structures than those who have not. The results were gathered using MRI findings on 20 brains of youths who committed at least one homicide and 135 youth offenders (criminals) who had not committed a homicide. Among homicide offenders, the MRI scans revealed a significant reduction in gray matter in the areas of the brain associated with impulse control and emotional processing. NeuroImage: Clinical, May 2014