[Forensic neuropsychology at the challenge of the relationship between cognition and emotion in psychopathy]. / La neuropsicología forense ante el reto de la relación entre cognición y emoción en la psicopatía.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between frontal lobe damage and criminality is especially complex. The neural substrates of psychopathic behavior seem to involve structural and functional abnormalities in the frontal lobes and the limbic system. AIM. To analyze the repercussions that brain structural and functional abnormalities in psychopathic individuals may have for forensic neuropsychology. DEVELOPMENT: Consistent evidence indicate that response inhibition problems in psychopathic subjects are linked to structural or functional damage in the frontal cortex. Furthermore, the prefrontal cortex, along with the amygdala and the hippocampus forms the limbic system, which is an important neural substrate of emotion processing; therefore the psychopath's capacity of affective processing could also be impaired. The theoretical frameworks of the somatic marker and mirror neuron hypotheses, along with the empirical study of executive functions may contribute to explain the inability of the psychopathic subjects to feel empathy, which is one of the main inhibitors of violence and antisocial behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between frontal lobe dysfunction and antisocial behavior arises an important legal issue. In order to consider some type of minor liability in the case of psychopaths it is suggested to gather further research data about the relationship between frontal lobe dysfunction and the ability to inhibit antisocial behavior by making an adequate use of empathy and emotional ties.

La neuropsicología forense ante el reto de la relación entre cognición y emoción en la psicopatía / Forensic neuropsychology at the challenge of the relationship between cognition and emotion in psychopathy

Introducción. La relación entre daño en el lóbulo frontal y criminalidad es particularmente compleja. El sustrato anatómico subyacente al comportamiento psicopático se refleja en diferencias estructurales y funcionales vinculadas al lóbulo frontal. Objetivo. Analizar las repercusiones de las alteraciones estructurales y funcionales del lóbulo frontal en los sujetos psicópatas para la neuropsicología forense. Desarrollo. Hay un cuerpo de investigación coherente que sugiere que los problemas de inhibición de los psicópatas se vinculan con daños estructurales o funcionales en la corteza frontal. Por otra parte, laamígdala, el hipocampo y la corteza prefrontal se integran en el sistema límbico, que gobierna la expresión de las emociones, por lo que los psicópatas también podrían ver afectada su capacidad de procesamiento afectivo. Las hipótesis de los marcadoressomáticos y de las neuronas espejo, junto con el estudio de la función ejecutiva, podrían revelar las deficiencias de los psicópatas para experimentar empatía, que es uno de los principales inhibidores de la violencia y la conducta antisocial. Conclusiones. La conexión entre disfunción del lóbulo frontal y comportamiento antisocial plantea una importante cuestiónforense. En el caso de los psicópatas, para que se pueda considerar algún tipo de menor responsabilidad legal se sugiere seguir acumulando datos de investigación de la relación entre disfunción del lóbulo frontal y capacidad de inhibir la conducta antisocial haciendo un correcto uso de la empatía y de los vínculos emocionales

Introduction. The relationship between frontal lobe damage and criminality is especially complex. The neural substrates of psychopathic behavior seem to involve structural and functional abnormalities in the frontal lobes and the limbic system. Aim. To analyze the repercussions that brain structural and functional abnormalities in psychopathic individuals may havefor forensic neuropsychology. Development. Consistent evidence indicate that response inhibition problems in psychopathic subjects are linked to structural or functional damage in the frontal cortex. Furthermore, the prefrontal cortex, along with theamygdala and the hippocampus forms the limbic system, which is an important neural substrate of emotion processing; therefore the psychopath’s capacity of affective processing could also be impaired. The theoretical frameworks of the somatic marker and mirror neuron hypotheses, along with the empirical study of executive functions may contribute to explain the inability of the psychopathic subjects to feel empathy, which is one of the main inhibitors of violence and antisocial behavior. Conclusions. The relationship between frontal lobe dysfunction and antisocial behavior arises an important legal issue. In order to consider some type of minor liability in the case of psychopaths it is suggested to gather further research data about the relationship between frontal lobe dysfunction and the ability to inhibit antisocial behavior by making an adequate use of empathy and emotional ties

[Dysexecutive symptoms in substance abusers under treatment using the Spanish version of the dysexecutive questionnaire (DEX-Sp)]. / Sintomatología disejecutiva en adictos a sustancias en tratamiento mediante la versión española del cuestionario disejecutivo (DEX-Sp).

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Dysexecutive syndrome has traditionally been related to alterations affecting the functioning of the frontal lobes of the brain. Different studies suggest that this syndrome is present in addicts to substances and, hence, the use of a brief questionnaire has been put forward as a way of carrying out an initial screening for the condition, prior to a thorough assessment of the executive functions by a neuropsychologist. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The Spanish version of the dysexecutive questionnaire (DEX-Sp) was administered to 176 addicts who were beginning treatment and to 213 non-clinical (control) participants. The DEX is a 20-item self report that evaluates a wide range of dysexecutive symptoms. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences appeared between the scores of addicts and those obtained by the control group. Whereas males showed differences in the types of symptoms they reported, female addicts displayed more intense dysexecutive clinical features, which affected all the areas under frontal control. No significant differences were observed as regards the main drug of abuse. CONCLUSIONS: It can be established that a total score of 24 points or more on the complete DEX-Sp scale suggests the existence of dysexecutive symptoms that are clinically relevant. Likewise, scores of 33 points or more indicate a probable moderate or severe dysexecutive syndrome. The DEX seems to be an instrument that is sensitive, fast and easy to apply in the initial assessment of addicts who are seeking treatment.