Raine et al 1997

• Raine et al (1997) Aim: To investigate whether there was different brain functioning in a group of murderers to control participants.  
• Raine et al (1997) Results: Brain dysfunction in NGRI group was in areas implicated in violent behaviours.
• Raine et al (1997) Results: Murderers showed: Lower activity in prefrontal cortex, Lower activity in parietal cortex, Higher activity in the occipital lobe, Identical activity in temporal lobe, Lower activity in corpus callosum, Asymmetrical behaviour in amygdala.
• Raine et al (1997) Conclusion: Brain differences have been associated with many behavioural changes, suggesting abnormal activity could result in criminals being unable to modify behaviour. Certain differences make violence more likely to occur.
• Raine et al (1997) Procedure: All participants in this group remained medication-free for two weeks prior to PET scan. They were given continuous performance task. The participants were injected with glucose.

  32 minutes after a PET scan was conducted to observe metabolic rate in different areas of the brain. (activity levels)
• Raine et al (1997) Sample: Matched pair design Two groups- criminals and control group, 41 participants (39 males and 2 female). All were convicted for murder or manslaughter.
• Raine et al (1997) Sample: All were convicted for murder or manslaughter, claimed “not guilty by reason of insanity” NGRIs.

  6 schizophrenia, 23 organic brain damage or head injury, 3 substance abusers, 2 affective disorders.
• Raine et al (1997) The areas of brain functioning associated with aggression are prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, corpus callosum.
• (Strength) Application- Understanding of reason for committing crimes can help to reduce reoffending.
• (strength) High generalisability- Large participant sample size using matched pair design
• (weakness) Ethical issues- Injecting participants with radioactive tracer may have caused harm. Also, some participants had been diagnosed with mental illnesses which could also impact their behaviour.
• (weakness) Reductionist - idea that brain is the only cause for violence.