Faking bad: The neural correlates of feigning memory impairment

Neuropsychology. 2016 Mar;30(3):377-84. doi: 10.1037/neu0000251. Epub 2016 Jan 14.

Abstract

Objective: The detection of malingering in cognitive performance is a challenge in clinical and legal environments. Neuroimaging may provide an objective method for delineation of malingering.

Method: A heterogeneous with concern of gender and racial-ethnic identity of 22 healthy volunteers completed the Tombaugh Test of Memory Malingering during an fMRI scan. Subjects were either instructed to perform optimally (not feigning) or to perform "as if they had a mild traumatic brain injury with memory impairment" (feigning).

Results: A voxel-based multiple regression analysis revealed that during correct responses there was greater activation in the superior and medial prefrontal cortex during the feigning versus the not-feigning responses.

Conclusions: This finding suggests that falsified memory performance requires greater activation of cognitive control networks to determine a correct selection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Injuries / psychology
  • Cognition
  • Female
  • Gyrus Cinguli / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Malingering / diagnosis*
  • Malingering / psychology*
  • Memory Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Memory Disorders / psychology*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiopathology
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Young Adult