tumor

[SOLDIER]

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Brain tumor does it have any direct psychological effect on patients
like in terms of behavior etc

 

[pingouin]

It depends on what kind it is, where it is, how big it is, how fast it's growing, how much swelling is around it, and a host of other factors.

Generally speaking, the cognitive and/or motor functions that a specific area are responsible for are most likely to be affected. However, growth or just mass effect (look it up) can cause deficits in other regions as well.

This question is extraordinarily vague, and I'd suggest doing a web search for your specific interests. It might be helpful to look at the US' National Institutes of Health website if you're looking for a reputable source.

 

[SOLDIER]

It depends on what kind it is, where it is, how big it is, how fast it's growing, how much swelling is around it, and a host of other factors.

Generally speaking, the cognitive and/or motor functions that a specific area are responsible for are most likely to be affected. However, growth or just mass effect (look it up) can cause deficits in other regions as well.

This question is extraordinarily vague, and I'd suggest doing a web search for your specific interests. It might be helpful to look at the US' National Institutes of Health website if you're looking for a reputable source.

so if the tumor is on the Cerebrum we can say..that the brain may get criminal e.g the patient cant see what is right or wrong ?
or memory loss?

 

[numbereight]

the quick and dirty answer to your first question is yes, brain tumors often have effects on behavior. however, most of the effects are things like increased irritability, lack of attention, and impairments in normal brain functions. the type of behavior you're talking about to with your second question is, i think, possible but very rare. sometimes the cases you have heard of (e.g. the guy who got a tumor in his thalamus (?) and went on a shooting spree) are one of a kind unique. if this kind of thing can happen with a tumor in the cerebrum specifically, i don't know. google might be able to tell you. basically, this kind of thing happens a lot more in prime-time drama TV and science fiction then it does in real life. hope this helps.

 

[erg923]

I recently read a book on Charles Whitman and there is considerable debate about the exact position/location of the tumor and how (if at all) it was affecting his behavior. Due to his substantial hx of violence and a host of long standing personal (Freudian) issues, especially with his father, I am inclined to think that it made may have him more irritable and moody (possibly) and thats about it......hardly an explantation for sudden mass murder.

 

[erg923]

so if the tumor is on the Cerebrum we can say..that the brain may get criminal e.g the patient cant see what is right or wrong ?
or memory loss?

And no, tumors rarely cause florid psychosis that impair reality testing or cause delusions to the point where right and wrong is blurred. And brains dont "get criminal." Crime is a behavior. Wheter or not the behavior is a "crime" depends on the laws or social norms of the society in which the behavior is commited.

 

[Ollie123]

I wouldn't phrase it that way, but it absolutely can cause behavior change. You seem to think this is much simpler then it is. Things are rarely black and white in this field. As numbereight mentioned, don't believe what you see on TV. They are far more likely to present with headaches and blurred vision. A tumor might very well cause personality change, but its usually not going to be crystal clear how that happens. It might increase the likelihood of someone engaging in certain behaviors in a loose, difficult-to-assess way, but that's about it.

 

[SOLDIER]

And no, tumors rarely cause florid psychosis that impair reality testing or cause delusions to the point where right and wrong is blurred. And brains dont "get criminal." Crime is a behavior. Wheter or not the behavior is a "crime" depends on the laws or social norms of the society in which the behavior is commited.

erg923 i cant believe that crime is just a behavior
i believe crime can be genetic or a chemical imbalance
so we can say that a tumor can cause a chemical imbalances

 

[twilson]

Well crime can't be just a chemical imbalance because whats considered a crime isn't the same worldwide as stated by Erg, its a societal construct

 

[SOLDIER]

Well crime can't be just a chemical imbalance because whats considered a crime isn't the same worldwide as stated by Erg, its a societal construct

yes i agree but am talking abt violent crime...crime that is rape murder etc

 

[erg923]

do you know that rape is not illegal in some countries?

 

[SOLDIER]

do you know that rape is not illegal in some countries?

yes but u know in same cultures BUT it is mostly ancient cultures some believe that sex with a virgen is the cure for Aids etc it happens here alot under the black poeple but the goverment is against it et


But the main idea is we cant say that all of them is just a crime if we look like in terms of chemicals and genetics and even hormones of psychopaths etc. and maybe a normal school kid who just shoot and kill 30 ather kids
or the school kid who used a swort to killed his classmate becouse satan told him so but experts say ther was no satanic involvement ?

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

erg923 i cant believe that crime is just a behavior
i believe crime can be genetic or a chemical imbalance
so we can say that a tumor can cause a chemical imbalances

Since "crime" is a social construct based on a set of beliefs and behaviors, it can't really be described through a genetic connection.

You can have a brain injury (or medical condition) that can impact things like impulsivity, perception, judgment, etc....which may raise the likelihood of someone behaving a certain way, though it is far from a definitive causal relationship.

 

[erg923]

The above is the most concise point thus far. I would just add that the direct mapping of function (behavior) onto structure (neuroanatomy) is a folly that was noted years ago when phrenology became popular. It has been clear that there is not a 1 to 1 relationship between the 2 for sometime now.

It is well know that damage to the brain can result in behavior change secoindary to changes in executive functions such as inhibition, judegment, insight etc. Take the famous case of Phineas Gage for example. Behavior change can also be noted in patients with neurodegenrative conditions such as Alzheimers, Huntingtons, Picks, etc. However, there are no known genes that predisose one to violent criminal activity. Aggression has many many causes and factors driving it depending on the situation.