Neuropsychological Effects of Violence Exposure on Cognitive Outcomes: The Case of Colombian Youth

• In Event: International Perspectives on Crime, Violence, and Victimization Over the Life-Course

Abstract

Worldwide, over a billion of children per year experience some type of violence. In Colombia, more than 30 years of armed conflict and violence have been linked to behavioral and emotional sequelae on youth’s developmental outcomes. Robust evidence has been found for the detrimental effects of violence on youth’s overall functioning and health; little is known, however, about the cognitive effects on adolescents experiencing violence. This pilot study used a quasi-experimental design to examine neurocognitive markers in Colombian youth (N=70; 9-16 years old; mean: 11.6; 37% females) exposed to violence and diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and controls reporting no trauma. Results provided evidence of impaired cognitive performance in automatic response inhibition, abstract reasoning, cognitive flexibility, memory, and attention. In addition, mostly executive functions and control inhibition in the brain were affected by exposure to violence similarly to forensic results on children traumatized by sexual and/or physical abuse. Findings highlight the importance of understanding cognitive outcomes in traumatized youth as they relate to working memory which plays a central role in the reconstruction of experiences after traumatic events. Practical and methodological implications will be discussed as they apply to forensic psychology, child forensic interviewing, witness testimony, and intervention programming.

Authors

• Elizabeth Trejos-Castillo, Texas Tech University

• Mauricio Barrera-Valencia, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia

• Liliana Calderon-Delgado, Universidad CES, Medellin, Colombia

• Michael O'Boyle, Texas Tech University