Omics and functional imaging in antisocial behavior

Recent advancements in molecular biology have permitted to broad the possibilities already achieved by morphological and functional imaging (PET and fMRI), highlighting not only the brain areas, but also the cerebral circuits and molecules that modulate human violent behavior . Through the omic sciences, epigenetic mechanisms (e.g. Hyper-methylation of MAO-A gene) and genetic variants that are capable of promoting violent and/or aggressive behaviors in subjects exposed to traumatic adverse events have been highlighted. These findings open up important forensic psychiatric perspectives on the use of omic science data to support the conclusions about partial or complete insanity of defendants, igniting a vivid debate about the use of neuroscientific evidence in court.