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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Can MRI Brain Scans Predict Killings?

In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school massacre in 2012, the parents of one 6-year old victim started a foundation to study the causes of homicidal behavior. One result is the discovery that the brains of young, male killers are biologically different from those of other young men.

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By Warren Olney • May 29, 2014 • 1 min read

In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school massacre in 2012, the parents of one 6-year old victim started a foundation to study the causes of homicidal behavior. One result is the discovery that the brains of young, male killers are biologically different from those of other young men. Kent Kiehl, Professor of Psychology at the University of New Mexico, created a mobile MRI scanner to measure the brain density of 500 psychopaths imprisoned for murder and compared the results to those for 3000 other offenders. In his latest study, he looked at young, male offenders.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Jenny Hamel

    KCRW

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Benjamin Gottlieb

    Reporter, Fill-in Host

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Evan George

    Director of Content, News

  • KCRW placeholder

    Kent Kiehl

    University of New Mexico

    NewsNationalPolitics
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