Brain abnormalities in murderers indicated by positron emission tomography. Raine (1997)

Aim

To see if people who have claimed not guilty reason insanity to a murder charge have a dysfunction in the brain areas associated with aggression.

Method

Participants: 41 Prisoners charged with murder and claiming “Not Guilty reason Insanity.”

Each participant was matched with a “normal” person on age, sex and mental illness, where relevant.

Procedure

All participants were injected with a tracer substance that was taken up by the brain to show the location of brain activity.

A positron emission tomography was used to show brain activity during a cognitive task.

Results

Murderers brain’s had less activity in areas associated with aggression, self control and inhibitions. For example the pre-frontal cortex, the corpus callosum and the amygdala.