EEG abnormalities in different types of criminal behavior

Abstract

Electroencephalographic abnormalities in psychopathic personalities and in forensic population were reported in many EEG studies but at this time the problem presents still unresolved question. Within this context aim of this study is to present findings of several EEG abnormalities in different types of criminal behavior in comparison to healthy controls. Studied sample included four groups. The first group (n=20) included offenders of violent criminal activity evaluated as impulsive, non-deliberate, affectively motivated and affectively aggressive. The second, control group (n=20) included individuals who committed no criminal activity and has no mental disorder. The third group (n=20) included violently deliberately behaving delinquents and the fourth group (n=20) included delinquents performing property criminal activities, non-violent and non-impulsive. An EEG abnormality was found in 70 % of subjects. Multiple abnormalities were found in 35% of the subjects. In non-impulsive delinquents higher rate of EEG abnormalities were found (30 % and multiple abnormalities in 5 %). Other groups i.e. thefts and the control group show no significant EEG changes. In summary, the results show the highest occurrence of EEG abnormalities in the group of impulsive criminals. The results are in agreement with previous findings that did not find specific EEG signs in different types of criminal behavior exception of impulsive aggressive criminals.