Forensic Neuropsychology: What Is It and Its Applications?
Forensic neuropsychology refers to the applications of knowledge of the branch of neuropsychology in legal matters. Forensic neuropsychology CA experts in this discipline offered during trial testimony about people who have some sort of damage or cognitive dysfunction. Therefore, this professional takes center stage in cases where the person who suffers the damage requests compensation for it.
The main tasks of the forensic neuropsychologist in civil and criminal cases have been determined to be as follows:
- Determine the person’s dysfunction
- Establish the effect of the dysfunction on the person’s daily life
- Make a statement regarding the forecasts that can be derived from this deficit.
- Establish the relationship between the cause being tried and the resulting dysfunction.
Therefore, the objective of this discipline is to carry out a sensitive and reliable identification of disorders. Starting with a description of them and establishing a relationship with the central nervous system. You can also make future recommendations that include evaluation and treatment.
Fields of application of forensic neuropsychology
These applications can be divided into two large areas of law. During the processes in these branches, it can have an important impact on the verdicts ruled in a trial or negotiation.
Labor and civil law
In this case, several aspects can be included:
Civil incapacity or interdiction. In this case, the assessment carried out provides information on the affected faculties and their functional consequences. Indicating if it is necessary to establish a disability of the person.
Valuation of handicaps, consequences, and damages. It is the field where forensic neuropsychology CA assessment is most important. In this case, it is in charge of evaluating the cognitive and emotional sequelae, produced by acquired brain damage. It can be driven by motivations and legal consequences since in this opinion you can receive some type of compensation or change of employment status.
Determination of incapacity for work. In this case, they help determine the existence of brain sequelae. Likewise, it must explain the influence that these damages may have on work skills and abilities.
Criminal law
Criminal law is the other area of law where neuropsychology is gaining ground. Specifically, when pathologies related to brain damage appear.
In addition, it can identify rare symptoms that are not caused by neurological pathologies. These can include: the simulations or increasing cognitive deficits psychiatric disorders. Among the main areas of work are:
Ability to face trial. For this aspect, the neuropsychologist helps to objectify the presence and magnitude of behavioral and cognitive difficulties. Likewise, it must indicate whether these may interfere with the fulfillment of legal activities.
Criminal liability. Here the role is to give information that refutes or shows that some cognitive problems. All this may condition whether or not the person understands the criminality of the activity. In addition, if this person can be held responsible for directing their conduct regarding the criminal act of which they may be accused.
Assessment of the victims. In this function, the assessment focuses on knowing the brain consequences that a person may have from attacks received by third parties.
Finally, it is important to understand that forensic neuropsychology, despite being a recent discipline, has had an important impact on your area of work. This is because the functioning of our brain can have a significant impact on the decisions that can be made within a legal process, in many cases conditioning the meaning of a verdict.
