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Córtex pré-frontal, funções executivas e comportamento criminal
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Os comportamentos anti-sociais têm sido associados ao funcionamento pré-frontal,
cuja disfunção pode levar a perturbações emocionais e/ou alteração das Funções
Executivas relacionadas com a organização temporal do comportamento, planeamento,
conceptualização e flexibilidade cognitiva. As disfunções executivas caracterizam-se,
fundamentalmente, por impulsividade elevada, diminuição do controlo inibitório,
perseveração, e perturbação da capacidade de planeamento, o que resulta num estilo de
vida ocupacional e social disfuncional.
Este trabalho foi desenvolvido através de três estudos que assentaram
exclusivamente em técnicas psicométricas de exame neuropsicológico. O tema central do
primeiro estudo, e objectivo principal deste trabalho, foi estudar as Funções Executivas
numa amostra de reclusos através da análise das principais funções cognitivas frontais,
relacionando-as com outras variáveis ligadas a este tipo de conduta, e que também podem
resultar de disfunção pré-frontal, como os níveis de agressividade e as características de
personalidade. Os estudos subsequentes foram desenvolvidos para abranger outros
aspectos da relação das FE com a criminalidade, nomeadamente, a reincidência criminal e o
tipo de crime cometido.
Os resultados obtidos no primeiro estudo mostram que existem alterações do
funcionamento executivo ao nível da flexibilidade mental e da planificação no grupo de
reclusos, e que a perturbação da flexibilidade mental está relacionada com níveis elevados
de expressão da ira e agressividade, assim como também apresenta uma relação com
traços de personalidade impulsivos, caracterizados por acções irracionais e rigidez
comportamental. Isto indica que uma fraca capacidade para alternar entre diferentes opções
comportamentais, assim como a dificuldade em manter e executar um plano de acção de
modo calmo e eficaz, podem promover manifestações de comportamentos agressivos e
socialmente desajustados.
A mesma tendência também se verificou no segundo estudo, onde se observou uma
perturbação da flexibilidade mental associada à reincidência criminal. Isto remete para o
facto de alteração da capacidade para alternar entre conceitos ou comportamentos, e
respectivo aumento da perseveração em certos padrões comportamentais e respostas
sociais, poderem estar na base da repetição de comportamentos criminais com
consequências penais. Já em relação ao tipo de crime verificou-se um padrão diferente,
visto que o grupo de crimes contra a propriedade apresenta alteração da memória de
trabalho e da flexibilidade mental, enquanto que o grupo de crimes contra as pessoas tem
um rendimento executivo dentro dos parâmetros normais excepto nas medidas da
planificação.
Deste modo, a avaliação neuropsicológica realizada permite concluir que existe
alteração do funcionamento executivo associada ao comportamento criminal e indica que as
manifestações anti-sociais e criminais verificadas podem ser uma consequência de
disfunção pré-frontal.
ABSTRACT: Antisocial behaviour has been associated with impairment of prefrontal brain areas that cause executive dysfunction and emotional disturbances. Prefrontal brain damage can have a serious effect on executive functioning by producing planning and mental flexibility disorders that lead to perseverative behaviour, and that also affects social and professional behaviour in a negative manner. The purpose of this research was to study the relation between executive functions and criminal behaviour and, with the intention to cover several aspects of criminality, it was carried through three studies based exclusively on psychometric techniques and neuropsychological testing. The central objective of the first study was to analyse executive functioning - through the prefrontal cognitive functions exam – in a sample of offenders, and its relation with high levels of anger and antisocial personality traits. Two subsequent studies were developed to provide a more comprehensive approach with regard to the relationship between EF and criminality: one dedicated to recurrent criminal behaviour, and another that examined the type of crime committed. The first study revealed that the offenders group shows executive impairments restricted to mental flexibility and planning abilities. It also provided evidence that the mental flexibility function is correlated with anger expression and with personality traits that produce irrational and rigid behaviour. This suggests that a weak ability to switch between different behavioural options, as well as an incapacity to maintain and execute an action plan in a calm and effective fashion, can promote dysfunctional social behaviour. Additionally, the data obtained in the second study showed a disturbance of mental flexibility associated with recurrent criminal behaviour, meaning that a set shifting deficit will increase perseveration on certain behavioural patterns that can lead to the repetition of criminal behaviour. And, finally, the third study demonstrates that there is a disruption of working memory and mental flexibility in the group of crimes against property, and that the offenders who have practiced crimes against people show executive functioning levels quite similar to those found in general population, except in the planning abilities where its scores are strongly affected by impulsivity. Hance, the neuropsychological assessment results point out the existence of prefrontal brain dysfunction that can be considered as the basis of impaired social behaviour. It is concluded that criminal behaviour, in the specific conditions of these studies, can be influenced by executive functions deficits caused by impaired neuronal functioning
ABSTRACT: Antisocial behaviour has been associated with impairment of prefrontal brain areas that cause executive dysfunction and emotional disturbances. Prefrontal brain damage can have a serious effect on executive functioning by producing planning and mental flexibility disorders that lead to perseverative behaviour, and that also affects social and professional behaviour in a negative manner. The purpose of this research was to study the relation between executive functions and criminal behaviour and, with the intention to cover several aspects of criminality, it was carried through three studies based exclusively on psychometric techniques and neuropsychological testing. The central objective of the first study was to analyse executive functioning - through the prefrontal cognitive functions exam – in a sample of offenders, and its relation with high levels of anger and antisocial personality traits. Two subsequent studies were developed to provide a more comprehensive approach with regard to the relationship between EF and criminality: one dedicated to recurrent criminal behaviour, and another that examined the type of crime committed. The first study revealed that the offenders group shows executive impairments restricted to mental flexibility and planning abilities. It also provided evidence that the mental flexibility function is correlated with anger expression and with personality traits that produce irrational and rigid behaviour. This suggests that a weak ability to switch between different behavioural options, as well as an incapacity to maintain and execute an action plan in a calm and effective fashion, can promote dysfunctional social behaviour. Additionally, the data obtained in the second study showed a disturbance of mental flexibility associated with recurrent criminal behaviour, meaning that a set shifting deficit will increase perseveration on certain behavioural patterns that can lead to the repetition of criminal behaviour. And, finally, the third study demonstrates that there is a disruption of working memory and mental flexibility in the group of crimes against property, and that the offenders who have practiced crimes against people show executive functioning levels quite similar to those found in general population, except in the planning abilities where its scores are strongly affected by impulsivity. Hance, the neuropsychological assessment results point out the existence of prefrontal brain dysfunction that can be considered as the basis of impaired social behaviour. It is concluded that criminal behaviour, in the specific conditions of these studies, can be influenced by executive functions deficits caused by impaired neuronal functioning
Description
Tese de Doutoramento em Psicologia - Área de Especialidade Psicobiologia.
Keywords
Psicobiologia Funções executivas Avaliação neuropsicológica Criminalidade Agressividade Psychobiology Executive functions Neuropsychological assessment Criminality Aggressive behaviour
Citation
Publisher
ISPA - Instituto Universitário das Ciências Psicológicas, Sociais e da Vida