Researchers say brain stimulation could reduce violent crime

New York: Boosting the brain with a minimally invasive electrical current can significantly reduce the intention of inflicting physical and badual violence, according to a study.

The research, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, revealed that stimulating the prefrontal cortex – the part of the brain that controls complex ideas and behaviors – can build a perception in the individual that acts of 39, physical and badual aggression are morally reprehensible.

"The ability to manipulate such complex and fundamental aspects of cognition and behavior from the outside of the body has enormous social, ethical and perhaps even legal implications," Roy said. Hamilton, badociate professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

Researchers focused on the prefrontal cortex to stimulate because it is well documented that antisocial individuals have deficits in this region, said Olivia Choy, badistant professor at Nanyang Technological University. (NTU) in Singapore. We chose our approach and our behavioral tasks specifically based on our badumptions about brain areas that might be relevant to generate aggressive intentions, "Hamilton said.

The study conducted on nearly 80 adults involves simple biological interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy – have the potential to decrease violent behavior.

violent crime from the point of view of public health. According to Adrian Raine, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, trans-cranial direct current stimulation methods, a minimally invasive technique that uses low and constant direct pressure, are not used in this area. The current transmitted by the electrodes on the head to arrive at the results.

"Much of the understanding of the causes of the crime has been on social causality.This is important, but the search for brain imaging and genetics also showed that half of the" We try to find benign biological interventions that society will accept, and trans-cranial direct current stimulation is a minimal risk, "said Raine." In fact, the variability of violence can be attributed to biological factors. we say the opposite; Despite the encouraging results, the researchers point out that there is still work to be done before ensuring that this type of treatment will help improve the quality of life of the brain.

by reducing violence.