Research Projects

In the current scenario of rehabilitation of juvenile offenders very little work has been conducted to improve the neuropsychological functioning of such offenders using the principle of operant conditioning such as EEG-Biofeedback/Neurofeedback which is one of the cost-effective and validated measures of restoration of psycho-biological functions of individuals suffering from wide range of disorders. In view of this, the present approach would be a significant breakthrough not merely in rehabilitation but also in validating this technology indigenously on the current sample. Further, very limited study has been done by the researchers in India and within states or it has been a limited approach study looking into the administrative hurdles and vulnerable population. Further, following major objectives have been proposed for the current study: 1. To measure perceived aggression among juvenile offenders and externalized adolescents. 2. To measure response inhibition and executive dysnfunctions among juvenile offenders and externalized adolescents. 3. To apply Neurofeedback Intervention Cognitive Re-training Module (NICRtM) on both juvenile offenders and externalized adolescents and ameliorated the cognitive deficits. 4. To develop and suggest policy framework for Forensic Psychology interventions in an objective manner to the Govt. of India for rehabilitation of juveniles so as to decrease recidivism rates in the country. Hypotheses H1: There will be significant difference in aggression, response inhibition and executive functions among Juvenile Offenders, externalized adolescents and age matched control groups. H2: There will be significant difference in the Z-scores of all three groups between pre NICRtM and post assessment. H3: Juvenile offenders and externalized adolescents would exhibit significantly higher baseline alpha power compared to age matched controls. H4: Juvenile offenders and externalized adolescents would exhibit significant alpha power reductions post-NFB training. In the preliminary first phase, clinical tools will be utilized to assess and measure aggression, response inhibition, and deviance in 80 juveniles offenders (male & female) in the age range of 12 to 18 years who have been adjudicated for juvenile offenses within Gujarat state and Delhi region. During the second phase, among those 80 juveniles, 40 participants would be identified with lower response inhibition, more impulsive in nature and aggression would be comparatively higher than other inmates. Such sample would be subjected to Neurofeedback Intervention Cognitive Re-training Module (NICRtM) atleast for three weeks in a row and another behavioural re-assessment would be performed after one month of gap. Another, 30 non-offender participants within the same age range would be recruited while matching the age, socio-economic and education etc as controls.