Neuroimaging Abnormalities in Neurological Patients with Criminal Behavior

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Criminal behavior occurs in previously law-abiding neurological patients, including patients with traumatic brain injury, focal brain lesions, and dementia. Neuroimaging abnormalities in these patients allow one to explore the potential neuroanatomical correlates of criminal behavior. However, this process has been challenging because (1) It is difficult to determine the temporal relationship between criminal behavior and neurological disease onset; (2) Abnormalities in several different brain regions have been associated with criminal behavior; and (3) It is difficult to quantify neuroimaging abnormalities in individual subjects.

Recent Findings

Recent studies have begun to address these concerns, showing that neuroimaging abnormalities in patients with criminal behavior localize to a common brain network, rather than a single specific brain region. New methods have been developed to identify atrophy patterns in individual patients, but have not yet been used in neurological patients with criminal behavior.

Summary

Future advances will be important for making sure that neuroimaging data is used in a responsible manner in legal cases involving criminal behavior.

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