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.
Criminal Psychological Profile
- Low anxiety (MMPI)
- High aggression and impulsivity
- Consistent with findings on amygdala dysfunction and frontal lobe damage