Neurocognitive Risks Following Repeated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Predict Violent Crime in a Novel Community Sample

• In Event: Neurocriminological Approaches: Innovative Paradigms from the West Coast

Abstract

Neurocriminological research has established a link between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and increased aggression and violence. This increase in violent criminal behavior may be attributed to neurocognitive deficits such as the ability to maintain attention and inhibit responses (cognitive stability), and incorporating new information into decision making (cognitive flexibility) resulting from damage to brain connectivity. Even mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can have long lasting deleterious effects. The current study is the first to assess the mediating effects of both cognitive flexibility and stability deficits on the relationship between repeated mTBI and violent crime. A community sample of homeless men (n = 46) was administered the modified version of the OSU TBI identification screener (history of mTBI), the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (cognitive flexibility), and a Go/No Go inhibition task (cognitive stability) as part of a larger testing protocol. History of violence was assessed through semi-structured clinical interviews. Preliminary analysis showed mTBI to be a significant predictor of violent crime. Mediation analyses will be conducted to determine the effect of repeated mTBI on violent crime through its effect on cognitive stability and flexibility. Implications for neurocriminological research, as well as possible interventions for at-risk community populations, will be discussed.

Authors

• Jeremy Feiger, California State University, Long Beach

• Jennifer Ostergren, California State University, Long Beach

• Robert Schug, California State University, Long Beach