This lesson covers the relevance of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in abnormal psychology, touching on its media prominence, role in diagnosis exclusion, and ties to brain anatomy.
Lesson Objectives
- Understand brain lobe functions and effects of damage.
- Differentiate brain structure in criminals vs. non-criminals.
- Identify TBI causes, course, and treatments.
- Distinguish head injury types and severity levels.
- Critically assess the impact of concussions in sports.
Clinical Symptoms and Brain Location
- Cerebellum: Coordination and balance — damage causes ataxia.
- Hippocampus: Memory formation — damage leads to anterograde and retrograde amnesia.
- Occipital Lobe: Visual processing — damage may cause agnosia or hallucinations.
- Temporal Lobe: Auditory processing — can result in auditory hallucinations, mimicking schizophrenia.
- Parietal Lobe: Sensory integration — damage may cause apraxia or anosognosia.
- Frontal Lobe: Executive function — damage may result in pseudodepression or pseudopsychopathy.
The Criminal Brain
Smaller or underactive amygdala is associated with aggression, impulsivity, and criminal behavior. Studies (Pardini et al., 2013; Glenn et al., 2009; Gao et al., 2010) show links between amygdala abnormalities and violence.
Prevention and Intervention
- Nutrition, early childhood enrichment, maternal health education, and yoga programs can reduce risk of future criminal behavior.
Types of TBI
- Concussion: Mild, most common form of TBI.
- Contusion: Bruising from coup-contrecoup injury.
- Laceration: Severe, penetrating brain injury.
Closed Head Injury Symptoms
- Memory loss
- Drowsiness
- Hemorrhage and swelling
- Headache and nausea
- Loss of consciousness:
- Mild: ≤ 30 minutes
- Moderate: ≤ 6 hours
- Severe: > 6 hours
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
- Stage I: Headache, attention issues
- Stage II: Depression, outbursts
- Stage III: Cognitive decline
- Stage IV: Dementia, aggression
Postconcussional Syndrome (PCS)
Occurs in ~50% of mild TBI cases. Early symptoms include dizziness and blurred vision; later symptoms include anxiety, depression, cognitive issues. Recovery is influenced by premorbid traits and support systems.
Case Study: Chris Benoit
Benoit’s murder-suicide case suggests the impact of repeated concussions. Thought to exhibit symptoms of both CTE and PCS.
Criminal Psychological Profile
- Low anxiety (MMPI)
- High aggression and impulsivity
- Consistent with findings on amygdala dysfunction and frontal lobe damage
Lesson Summary
We explored how brain structure relates to behavioral symptoms, the role of TBI in abnormal psychology, and the clinical and social implications of brain injury.