Neurocognitive features of military personnel with deviant behavior

Abstract

Relevance. The low accuracy of deviant behavior (DB) detecting and predicting in military personnel using questionnaire methods underlines the need to search for new, more reliable approaches, in a number of which behavioral methods in the paradigm of Research Domain criteria are of particular interest, because they reveal biological prerequisites for deviant behavior, which is extremely important for improving occupational psychological selection.Intention – to study the features of neurocognitive functions in military personnel with deviant behavior in order to improve the methods of its diagnosis.Methodology.  3 groups of servicemen were examined: 1 st (n = 16) – with a predominance of internalizing behavior (suicidal forms of DB, F43.20 by ICD-10); 2nd (n = 21) – with externalizing patterns of behavior (addictive and asocial forms of DB, F34.0, F43.24, F61.0 by ICD-10); 3rd (n = 24) – mentally healthy servicemen. The following methods were used: “Stop signal”, Stroop test, “Affective priming”; 4) Iowa gambling task.Results and Discussion. The examination revealed the following: 1) according to the “Stop signal” test: in groups 1 and 2, there was a predominance of the priority of response speed over accuracy with a reduced response time in case of action and inaction reactions; 2) according to the Stroop test: in groups 1 and 2, increased number of errors in congruent responses and the average reaction time in congruent and incongruent types of responses, as well as the Stroop effect magnitudes were detected; 3) according to the “Affective priming” method: in groups 1 and 2, there was a reduced difference in the time of response during congruent and incongruent preconditioning to negative and positive stimuli; 4) according to the Iowa gambling task: the ability to learn based on emotional feedback in groups 1 and 2 was significantly lower than in group 3; sensitivity to punishment was also maximum in group 3, in group 1 it was significantly lower, while in group 2 it was of a paradoxical, inverted nature.Conclusion. The neurobiological basis for increased predisposition to deviant behavior is excessive impulsivity due to a deficit in cognitive and behavioral inhibition, as well as a lower sensitivity of the affective response system. The use of neurocognitive tests for measuring individual indicators of impulsivity and affective response will improve the accuracy and reliability of predicting deviant behavior in military personnel, and the impact on these biological targets will effectively correct these behavioral phenomena.