Neurologic abnormalities in murderers

Abstract

Thirty-one individuals awaiting trial or sentencing for murder or undergoing an appeal process requested a neurologic examination through legal counsel. We attempted in each instance to obtain EEG, MRI or CT, and neuropsychological testing. Neurologic examination revealed evidence of "frontal" dysfunction in 20 (64.5%). There were symptoms or some other evidence of temporal lobe abnormality in nine (29%). We made a specific neurologic diagnosis in 20 individuals (64.5%), including borderline or full mental retardation (9) and cerebral palsy (2), among others. Neuropsychological testing revealed abnormalities in all subjects tested. There were EEG abnormalities in eight of the 20 subjects tested, consisting mainly of bilateral sharp waves with slowing. There were MRI or CT abnormalities in nine of the 19 subjects tested, consisting primarily of atrophy and white matter changes. Psychiatric diagnoses included paranoid schizophrenia (8), dissociative disorder (4), and depression (9). Virtually all subjects had paranoid ideas and misunderstood social situations. There was a documented history of profound, protracted physical abuse in 26 (83.8%) and of sexual abuse in 10 (32.3%). It is likely that prolonged, severe physical abuse, paranoia, and neurologic brain dysfunction interact to form the matrix of violent behavior.

Neurocognitive elements of antisocial behavior: Relevance of an orbitofrontal cortex account

“…These have not specifically examined OFC function or psychopathy. For example, 'frontal dysfunctions' were found in 65% of murderers (Blake, Pincus, & Buckner, 1995). In another study, violent adolescent and adult psychiatric patients compared with non-violent controls have been shown to exhibit reduced overall pre-frontal activity and increased anterior medial prefrontal activity (Amen, Stubblefield, Carmichael, & Thisted, 1996).…”

Flexibilidade mental na resolução de problemas em indivíduos que cumprem pena por homicídio qualificado

“…Estudos com técnicas de neuroimagem e neuroquímicas identificam a anatomia e funcionamento das áreas cerebrais e deste modo apontam a participação de lesões morfológicas (Blake, Pincus & Buckner, 1995;Filley, Price, Nell, Antoinette & Morgan, 2001) e déficits funcionais (Giancola & Zeichner, 1994;Raine, Buchsbaum & LaCasse, 1997) de certos centros cerebrais na gênese do comportamento violento.…”

“…Deste modo, outros componentes, certamente, têm um peso maior para influenciar o comportamento homicida, entre eles estaria o funcionamento cognitivo, mais especificamente a flexibilidade para resolver problemas, como apontado por Blake et al (1995), Dolan et al (2002), Sreenivasan et al (1997) entre outros autores.…”

“…Assim, constatou-se que os indivíduos que cometeram homicídio qualificado (G1) apresentam pior desempenho no Teste Wisconsin de Classificação de Cartas e o no Teste Stroop, evidenciando uma deficiência na flexibilidade cognitiva e, conseqüentemente, um possível indicativo de disfunção pré-frontal (o que necessitaria de maiores investigações), como foi encontrado em estudos com homicidas por Blake et al (1995), Jozef et al (2000), Raine et al (1997), e Sreenivasan et al (1997).…”

The Spectrum of Sociopathy in Dementia

“…Epidemiological information indicates that as many as 94% of homicide offenders, 61% of habitually aggressive people, and 78% of sex offenders may have brain dysfunction, including acute brain injuries and dementia. 1 Also, antisocial acts or “acquired sociopathy” can result from acute brain lesions. Ever since the famous case of Phineas Gage, who sustained bilateral ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) injury from the explosion of a railroad spike, clinicians have associated frontal-lobe lesions with alterations in social and moral behavior.…”