The Connection Between Behavior and Brain Injury: Irritability - Saki Kuramoto

How do brain injuries affect behaviors?

By: Saki Kuramoto

After a traumatic brain injury (TBI), many experience personality and behavioral changes regardless of the severity of their injury. Brain injuries damage connections between the cerebral cortex and the limbic system. The cerebral cortex is responsible for attention, awareness, and perception and the limbic system is responsible for motivations, emotions, and behaviors. Common symptoms

• irritability/aggression

• apathy

• impulsive behavior

• self-centeredness

Irritability/aggression People with brain injury become impatient, intolerant, and easily irritated by disruptions to their concentration. Some result in verbal and physical aggression caused by poor behavioral control, another symptom of behavior changes after a TBI. How? According to headway.org, factors such as damage to the limbic system, frontal lobe, and overstimulation are potential causes of increased irritability in a person.

Works Cited: Photo: CreativeCommons Resources: https://www.headway.org.uk/about-brain-injury/individuals/effects-of-brain-injury/behavioural-effects/ https://synapse.org.au/understanding-brain-injury/effects-of-brain-injury/