A working group under the auspices of the Aspen Neurobehavioral Conference, a meeting devoted to the exploration of the impact of brain function on human behavior, developed a consensus statement on the neurobehavioral aspects of violence. As a result of two sessions in 1998 and 1999, we and our colleagues prepared a critical summary on what is known and what remains to be learned about the contribution of brain dysfunction to violent behavior.1
Violence is ubiquitous in society--just consider action movies, video games, graphic news reports, or professional sports such as boxing. We need to study the implications of these public displays, not to mention warfare. Attention to violence among young people is particularly critical, because effective prevention can yield extended benefits. Even in the absence of brain dysfunction, exposure to violent events may exert profound behavioral consequences, presumably through effects on the developing brain. Thus not only can violence ...
