Impulsive behavior, and especially impulsive violence
predisposition has been correlated to a low brain serotonin
turnover rate, indicated by a low concentration of
5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the cerebral spinal fluid
(CSF). Possible polymorphisms in the gene for tryptophan
hydroxylase, which is responsible for the production of
hydroxytryptophan, the precursor of serotonin. Within violent
subjects, a significant relationship was observed between CSF
5-HIAA concentration and specific polymorphism genotypes. The
phenotypes associated with these genotypes are extreme and it is
hypothesized that these polymorphisms may only be significantly
correlated to impulsive behavior