Violence and temporal lobe lesion: head CT and MRI data

Head computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scanning were done in 23 patients with organic mental syndromes. Violent behavior was observed in 14 patients. A nonviolent group consisted of nine patients. Five cases of local lesion in the anterior-inferior temporal lobe were revealed in the violent group. It is suggested that the release of programs for violent behavior may result from the unilateral destruction of amygdaloid nuclei or adjacent structures coupled with the paroxysmal stimulation of preserved limbic structures by the mechanisms of kindling.