Brain scans reveal neural mechanisms that underlie suicidal thoughts, behaviors in veterans

Implicit Association Tests (IATs) are computerized tests that can be used to assess the subconscious association between different concepts. A form of the IAT, the Suicide Implicit Association Test (S-IAT), can measure people’s associations between the “self” and concepts relating to death/dying/suicide. While S-IAT is one of the few tests that uniquely predicts future suicide risk, there has been limited research investigating brain activation related to the S-IAT.