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Objective To examine whether demographic variables can assist in predicting executive dysfunction in individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Method Data were collected from presurgical evaluations of 13 individuals with TLE (67% females, mean age 34 ± 12) at the University of California, San Francisco Epilepsy Center. Executive functions were assessed using subtests from the D-KEFS (Verbal Fluency and Color/Word Interference Tests) and the Trail Making Test B. Given that depression and anxiety symptoms have been previously shown to be associated with poorer executive performance in individuals with TLE (Paradiso et al., 2001), predictability of the BDI-II and BAI scores were also tested. Linear regression analyses were used to test predictive values of demographic variables (age, age at seizure onset [ASO], years of education, gender, and right vs. left temporal epileptogenic source). Results ASO (β = .75, p = .021), gender (β = .632, p = .041), and education (β = .555, p = .05) explained 66% of the variance in the Verbal Fluency Switching scaled scores (R²=.66, F(4,8)= 3.876, p = .049). Education (β = .772, p = .009) and ASO (β = .686, p = .023) explained 70% of the variance in Verbal Fluency Switching Accuracy scaled scores (R² = .708, F(4,8) = 4.844, p = .028). Age (β = -.862, p = .003) and seizure onset (β = .457, p = .049) explained 52% of the variance in BAI scores (R² = .525, F(4,16) = 3.319, p = .032). Conclusions ASO predicted category switching and anxiety severity, while none of the demographic variables explored in this study predicted visuomotor switching. Further research should explore the efficacy of early interventions to protect against future executive dysfunction in TLE.

Objective The purpose of this study is to investigate whether executive functioning will moderate the relationship of a history of mental illness on aggression in a male forensic population. Method Using an archival database from a larger study, 232 male inmates (ages 21 and 49 years old) from three medium/maximum Maryland Correctional facilities were recruited using a pseudo-random selection process during intake. Participants were administered three EF tasks (Cambridge Decision Making Task, Logan Stop-Signal Task, and Stroop Interference Task), history of mental illness was obtained using the Symptom Checklist-90, and aggression was assessed with the Novaco Reaction to Provocation Questionnaire. Results Hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted. For overall aggression reactivity, inhibition moderated depression (IR2 = .025, F(3, 224) = 9.977, p < .001, β = -.246, p = .015) and psychoticism (IR2 = .019, F(3, 224) = 8.216, p < .001, β = -.136, p = .031). For reactive aggression subtype, inhibition moderated depression (IR2 = .025, F(3, 224) = 2.679, p = .048, β = .071, p = .017). For proactive aggression subtype, cognitive flexibility moderated anxiety (IR2 = .018, F(3, 224) = 4.731, p = .003, β = -.014, p = .039); and depression (IR2 = .022, F(3, 224) = 3.888, p = .010, β = -.017, p = .025). Conclusions Overall, there was mixed findings for inhibition. On Cambridge Decision Making task, inhibition moderated the predictive relationship of depression on reactive aggression and psychoticism and overall aggression but not for other measures of inhibition. For another inhibition task (Stroop), inhibition did not significantly moderate any mental illness on severity of aggression. Cognitive flexibility moderated the predictive relationships of anxiety and depression on proactive aggression. Findings suggest targeting cognitive flexibility for inmates diagnosed with anxiety depression, and psychosis when treating aggression in a male forensic population.