Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers

Brain abnormalities in murderers indicated by positron emission tomography Biological Psychiatry 42 495-508 Mark Souterpsychlotron.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 Souterpsychlotron.org.uk

Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderersPET scans showing hot spots for cognitive activitiesMark Souterpsychlotron.org.uk

Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderersintroduction: problems colourisation v complex errors 'hot spots' same for 'on & 'off' brain actionspracticed 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 2000Mark Souterpsychlotron.org.uk

Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderersPET scan of a subject whilst practicing a new language skillMark Souterpsychlotron.org.uk

Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderersthe 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 34.3Mark Souterpsychlotron.org.uk

Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderersthe 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 Souterpsychlotron.org.uk

Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderersthe study: controls 1 for each subject matched for age / sex schizophrenics with non-murderer schizophrenics all controls screened for mental/physical health Mark Souterpsychlotron.org.uk

Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderersthe 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 Souterpsychlotron.org.uk

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Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderersthe study: ANOVA statistical comparison ANalysis Of VAriance compares a range of factorsMark Souterpsychlotron.org.uk

Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderersresults: cortical areas differences in activity in lobes of cerebral cortex cf controls; parietal & pre-fontal: less activity =? occipital: more activity =?temporal: same =?Mark Souterpsychlotron.org.uk

Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderersresults: sub cortical areas less activity in corpus callosum cf controls a sub-cortical area =?cf Sperry Mark Souterpsychlotron.org.uk

Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderersresults: sub cortical areas imbalance between hemispheres cf controls in;amygdala; hippocampus less activity L / more Rthalamus - more activity R / same Lhandedness made no difference ethnicity made no difference head injury patients corpus callosum only difference Mark Souterpsychlotron.org.uk

Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderersdiscussion: 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 Souterpsychlotron.org.uk

Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderersdiscussion: 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 Souterpsychlotron.org.uk

Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderersdiscussion: 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 Souterpsychlotron.org.uk

Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderersdiscussion: practical applications diagnosis of criminality? no clear evidence to support this treatment of criminality no clear evidence to support this Mark Souterpsychlotron.org.uk

Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderersdiscussion:summary data unclear differences small cause-effect unknown meaning of differences unknown

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