Brain stimulation could zap out violent and criminal thoughts, according to new research

Penn Medicine

• A lot of how the brain controls our impulses remains a mystery.
• But there are some areas, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which have been linked to antisocial behaviour.
• Scientists have shown stimulating this area to boost its activity could reduce people's violent tendencies.
• In other words, it's the opposite of a lobotomy to remove the problem area.
• There is more work to be done, but the researchers are hopeful their treatment could be used on violent criminals in the future.

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Neuroscientists are fairly certain of the functions of many areas of the brain. For example, the prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain associated with our complex ideas and behaviors.

But the organ also holds plenty of mysteries, such as why some people are incurable psychopaths, or why after a traumatic brain injury someone's personality can completely change to become violent and aggressive.

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