Forensic Psychology of the Brain

Forensic psychology has a wide range of study. One aspect of forensic psychology is the study of forensic psychology of the brain also known as forensic neuropsychology. This particular area of forensic psychology has a great impact in determining criminal intent, criminal capabilities, and criminal disadvantages. A forensic neuropsychologist delves deep into the criminal mind.

Forensic Neuropsychology

• In forensic neuropsychology the function of the nervous system and the brain are applied to legal issues that involve both the mind and behavior. For example, a neuropsychological assessment of the brain would help identify if brain trauma was a trigger in a specified criminal act. Just the same, assessing the brain's function can help determine if a suspect is mentally competent enough to be held responsible for a crime.

Evaluation Techniques

• A multitude of tests are used in forensic psychology such as IQ tests, CT, SPECT, PET or MRI scans. These tests can help evaluate the brain in a range of areas such as brain injuries, the effects of medication and toxins on the brain and learning disabilities like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The tests are then integrated with current and past symptoms, observations, and information about the subject's developmental, biological, social, educational, and life experiences.

Common Brain Diseases

• Brain diseases have a direct impact on a person's ability to know right from wrong, so part of a forensic neuropsycologist's role is to determine if such a disorder caused a person's behavior. Bipolar disorder is a brain disease characterized by rapid mood swings and interferes with a person's ability to carry out daily activities. This disorder affects a person's ability to reason and may cause him to engage in criminal behavior. Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder characterized by disordered thoughts and visual and auditory hallucinations. This disease causes its victims to totally lose touch with reality and, in some cases, break the law.

Criminal Law

• Neuropsychological assessments allow for an understanding of the behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and functional impact of structural findings that may be present in neurological tests. This improved understanding of how the brain works and influences behavior, allows neuropsychologists to determine if a criminal act is a nervous dysfunction. With this information in hand they then testify as to reliability of witness testimony, competency of the individual standing trial, or the likelihood that a brain trauma or disorder caused a person to commit a crime.

Civil and Family Law

• In civil cases, forensic psychology of the brain is used to determine whether a defendant's wrongdoing caused a plaintiff injury. In family court, when an assessment is requested for children who have been abused, it is used to identify brain damage. In civil cases an independent medical evaluation (IME) can be requested. This usually refers to an evaluation performed by a retained expert either for the plaintiff, the insured, or for the defendant or insurance company.