title: Brain wave P300: a comparative study of various forms of criminal activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This comparative and comprehensive study builds on a previous study comparing the P300 wave of impulsively violent delinquents and a non-impulsive non-delinquent group. The purpose was to investigate changes in P300 cognitive evoked potentials, especially the amplitude and latency at the Pz electrode site.
  
  
  METHODS
  The P300 parameters of perpetrators of various types of criminal offences and those of a control group matched for age, gender, and educational status were compared (N=80). There were 20 subjects with impulsively aggressive delinquent behavior. The observed parameters were compared with the neuropsychophysiological correlates of a group of 20 subjects with deliberately (i.e. non-impulsive) violent behavior, a group of 20 delinquents sentenced for property crimes (theft), and 20 non-delinquent non-impulsive nonviolent persons. To differentiate these groups, Eysenck's IVE questionnaire and a structured interview according to DSM IV criteria conducted by a certified forensic psychiatrist were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed a significantly lower P300 wave amplitude in the impulsively aggressive individuals than in the other groups. No significant differences were found in terms of latency. The results confirm the results of previous studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest the possibility of a neuropsychophysiological correlate of impulsively aggressive individuals behaving in a socially dangerous way. This opens a discussion on the subject of expert evaluation of criminal acts within the context of "uncontrolled affect".
authors: Department of Psychiatry, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. iljazukov@seznam.cz
authors: Ilja
authors: I
authors: Zukov
authors: Radek
authors: R
authors: Ptacek
authors: Petr
authors: P
authors: Kozelek
authors: Slavomil
authors: S
authors: Fischer
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Domluvilova
authors: Jiri
authors: J
authors: Raboch
authors: Tomas
authors: T
authors: Hruby
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Susta
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003415:Crime; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans