Homicídio e lobo frontal: revisão da literatura

Research has show the relationship between brain functioning and homicide. The brain region involved in the understanding of this relationship is the frontal lobe. A systematic review of the scientific production on "homicide" and "frontal lobe" was developed, identifying and examining abstracts found in Medline, PsycInfo, Proquest and Lilacs systems, from 1990 through 2003. Twenty-two abstracts were analyzed as to three different dimensions: indexing system, publishing year and country and design. Publications were predominantly found in Medline system, United States, having a more or less homogeneous concentration and quasi-experimental design. Eleven papers having this design were analyzed considering sampling, participants’ gender and age, evaluation technique, associated variables and main findings. Most frequently, these papers used a sample group including predominantly adult male homicides in different legal status. The most researched variable concerning the topic was psychiatric disorder and the techniques more often used included neurological, neuropsychological and psychiatric assessments. Most of these studies showed a positive association between homicide behavior and front lobe disorder. Keywords: homicide; frontal lobe; brain functioning.