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Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers. Brain abnormalities in murderers indicated by positron emission tomography Biological Psychiatry 42 495-508. Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk. Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers. Introduction
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Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers Brain abnormalities in murderers indicated by positron emission tomography Biological Psychiatry 42 495-508 Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk
Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers Introduction • is there a biological basis for criminality? • PET scans • radioactive labels on: • blood/blood sugars • dopamine (neuro-transmitter) • gamma ray signals • 7-8M ps • also MRI and fMRI Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk
Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk PET scans showing ‘hot spots’ for cognitive activities
Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers introduction: problems • colourisation v complex errors • 'hot spots' same for 'on & 'off' brain actions • practiced brain activity declines in that area • 'hottest spots' = only for newest tasks? • "it seems we should not let the quality of evidence get in the way of a good story" Banyard and Grayson 2000 Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk
A scan of the same subject demonstrating this skill after it had become familiar Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers PET scan of a subject whilst practicing a new language skill Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk
Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers the study: subjects • 41 people: 39M 2F • charged with murder • pleading not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) • all referred for PET for legal reasons • average age 34.3 Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk
Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers the study: subjects’ medical histories • schizophrenia 6 • head injury/organic brain damage 23 • drug abuse 3 • affective disorder 2 • epilepsy 2 • hyperactivity or learning disorder 3 • personality disorder 2 Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk
Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers the study: controls • 1 for each subject • matched for age / sex • schizophrenics with non-murderer schizophrenics • all controls screened for mental/physical health Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk
Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers the study: the PET process • injection with glucose tracer • 32 mins on target recognition task • NRGI/controls compared re 14 L&R brain areas • 6 cortical: • inc prefrontal; parietal; temporal; occipital • 8 sub cortical: • inc corpus callosum; amygdala; hippocampus Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk
Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers the study: ANOVA • statistical comparison • ANalysis Of VAriance • compares a range of factors Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk
Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers results: cortical areas • differences in activity in lobes of cerebral cortex cf controls; • parietal & pre-fontal: less activity =? • occipital: more activity =? • temporal: same =? Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk
Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers results: sub cortical areas • less activity in corpus callosum cf controls • a sub-cortical area =? • cf Sperry Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk
Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers results: sub cortical areas • imbalance between hemispheres cf controls in; • amygdala; hippocampus – less activity L / more R • thalamus - more activity R / same L • handedness made no difference • ethnicity made no difference • head injury patients’ corpus callosum only difference Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk
Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers discussion: authors (1) • supports previous findings; • amygdala (part of limbic system) differences (linked to emotions; lack of fear) • corpus callosum differences linked to lack of long term perspective? • cautious about implications Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk
Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers discussion: authors (2) • results; • do not show violence is only biological in origin • do not show NGRIs not responsible for their own actions • do no say anything about causes of differences • cannot be generalised from NGRIs to other violent offenders • cannot be generalised to other types of crime Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk
Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers discussion: other issues • imaging methods still being developed • pre-scan task no bearing on violent behaviour • NGRIs not necessarily charged with violent act • cause effect of brain differences unclear Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk
Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers discussion: practical applications • diagnosis of criminality? • no clear evidence to support this • treatment of criminality • no clear evidence to support this Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk
Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers discussion:summary • data unclear • differences small • cause-effect unknown • meaning of differences unknown Mark Souter psychlotron.org.uk