Brain scans can spot suicidal thoughts with 91% accuracy

Scientists were able to spot suicidal thoughts on a brain scan - paving the way to new methods for screening people at-risk of taking their own life. The groundbreaking study by Carnegie Mellon University showed unique brain activity in suicidal people when they heard death-related words. While suicide is the second-leading cause of death among young people in the US, it is notoriously difficult to predict. But experts say this unprecedented experiment offers never-before-seen insight into how suicidal people think, and what preventative measures could be taken. Using machine-learning algorithms, the team was able to identify how brain activity is affected by suicidal ideation and behavior, and how it compares to'healthy' brain activity.