2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

What the Brain Reveals About Violence: MRI Findings from Adolescents to Adults

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-24-2026

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Kruti Chaliawala

Abstract

Background: Over the past two decades, neuroimaging studies have examined whether violent behavior is linked to structural brain abnormalities in areas involved in emotional regulation, impulse control, and moral reasoning. Comparing violent adults and adolescents is particularly important because developmental differences may provide insight into how the prefrontal and limbic systems influence deviant behavior, decision making, and responses to stress. Methods: A review of relevant literature was conducted through the university library and a general search through Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed journal articles published in English from 2010 onward. Conference proceedings, gray literature and non-journal articles were excluded from this review. Results: The included studies demonstrated that, specifically among adolescents, violent behavior was associated with reduced gray matter volume in frontal, temporal, parietal, and subcortical regions, including the amygdala, middle temporal gyrus, inferior parietal lobe, and superior temporal gyrus, suggesting impaired emotional processing, social cognition, and behavioral regulation. In adults, findings commonly involved prefrontal abnormalities, particularly reduced orbitofrontal and dorsolateral prefrontal volumes, as well as altered cerebellar-prefrontal connectivity linked to impulsivity and aggression. Conclusion/Discussion: Findings across age groups support a relationship between violent behavior and abnormalities in frontal and connected limbic networks, although comparisons across studies are limited by methodological differences. The present review will benefit the public health field by providing substantial evidence to incorporate standardized metrics, socioeconomic backgrounds, and longitudinal designs examining effects of carceral exposure, rehabilitation, and how time may influence neurobiological change in young adults.

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