Raine et al (classic)

• What is one application of early intervention to prevent brain damage in children?

  Schools monitoring brain injuries
• Bufkin & Luttrell's meta-analysis of 17 studies supports the link between impulsivity and deficits in the PFC or amygdala.
• Bufkin & Luttrell's meta-analysis demonstrated low ecological validity in studies of aggression.
• What is a primary ethical concern regarding informed consent in this study?

  NGRI mental capacity
• The aim of Raine et al.'s study was to identify brain abnormalities in people pleading NGRI
• The independent variable in Raine et al.'s study was whether the participant was an NGRI offender or a control group member.
• What was the mean age of the NGRI participants in Raine et al.'s study?

  34
• Participants in Raine et al.'s study performed the continuous performance task (CPT) for 32 minutes.
• Which brain region showed less activity in NGRI participants according to the PET scans?

  Frontal lobe
• Raine et al.'s study concluded that prefrontal deficits might make someone more impulsive and emotional.
• Raine et al.'s study is not representative of typical murderers due to their unique legal and mental status.
• Raine et al.'s study is considered androcentric because it primarily reflects male offenders.
• What standardized procedure was used in Raine et al.'s study to ensure reliability?

  CPT practice
• Subjectivity in interpreting results reduces the reliability of Raine et al.'s study.
• What is the classic study for biological psychology

  Raine et al 1997
• Raine Aim


  To discover, using PET scans, whether there are brain abnormalities in murderers who plead NGRI (not guilty by reason of insanity)
• Raine Sample


  - two groups used in this study with 41 people (39 Ms and 2 Fs) in each group

  - E group were charged with murder pleading NGRI

  - C group matched on illnesses age and sex so the only reason for Dif is killing someone
• Raine IV


  whether the participant had committed murder/ manslaughter or not.
• Raine DV


  the results of the PET scans.
• Raine design


  natural experiment because the researchers do not have total control over the independent variable.

  That is, the participant group are pre-existing and so participants cannot be randomly placed in the conditions of the experiment.
• Raine Procedure

  - Participants were required to perform a Continuous Performance Task (CPT) involving the participant staring at a screen while various blurred symbols appear.

  - The participant was to press a button when a particular symbol appeared, thus requiring constant attention to the screen.

  - They did this task for 10 minutes as a practice trial.

  - A radioactive glucose tracer (flurodeoxyglucose) was then injected into the participant.

  - After a further 32 minutes of the task, the subject's brains were PET scanned in order to determine the glucose metabolic rate throughout the brain to determine the level of activity in various regions of the brain.
• Raine Results


  -Lowerlevels of brain activity in both hemispheres compared to the control group in the Prefrontal Cortex-Lower levels of brain activity compared to the control group in various areas of the parietal cortex - Lower levels of brain activity compared to the control group in both hemispheres in the Corpus Callosum- There were abnormal asymmetrical levels of limbic system activity (RH higher than controls LH lower) compared to the controls in the: Amygdala, Thalamus and Hippocampus
• Raine Conclusion Overall

  - Results could predispose a person towards violent behaviour.

  - Abnormal functioning of the amygdala, which is responsible for emotional processing, results in the murderers being fearless. This fearlessness could result in the increase chance of acting violently.- The hippocampus and thalamus have been related to learning and it is possible that abnormal activity here could result in criminals being unable to modify their own behaviour by learning from the consequences of their actions- 4. Raine et al. suggest that the right hemisphere is implicated in generating negative mood. The left hemisphere normally regulates this.However, because the corpus callosum is not as active in murderers compared to controls, they would be unable to regulated the negative mood and possible become more violent due to the low mood.
• Raine suggestions about Prefrontal Cortex

  Lack of functioning in the prefrontal cortex results in the reduced ability to regulate the activity of the limbic system and thus control natural aggressive responses to threatening stimuli.
• Raine suggestions about Amygdala

  Abnormal functioning of theamygdala, which is responsible for emotional processing, results in the murderers beingfearless. This fearlessness could result in the increase chance of acting violently.
• Raine suggestions about Hippo and Thala

  The hippocampus and thalamus have been related to learning and it is possible that abnormal activity here could result in criminals being unable to modify their own behaviour by learning from the consequences of their actions
• Raine suggestions about Hemispheres

  - The right hemisphere is implicated in generating negative mood. The left hemisphere normally regulates this.- However, because the corpus callosum is not as active in murderers compared to controls, they would be unable to regulated the negative mood and possibly become more violent due to the low mood.
• Raine Generalisability +-


  + Large sample used for an unique characteristic

  - Mainly males used (may be representative of proportion of male murders)

  - Atypical as consisted of a certain group of offenders
• Raine Reliability +-


  + Standardised procedures: same scanner (PET), same continuous performance task for 32 mins

  + Quantitative data technique (PET)
• Raine Application


  - pre-dispositions for committing violent criminal acts could be identified using PET scans.

  - cause and effect between brain dysfunction and violent murder is NOT established in this study.

  - Raine himself suggests that caution is needed. He emphasises that having certain kinds of brain activity does not mean that somebody will be a violent offender. i.e. PET scans cannot and should not be used as a diagnostic tool to predict violent offending
• Raine Validity +-


  + Well controlled (no medication for 2 weeks, age, sex and illness matched)

  - Could not control upbringing or situation of offence

  - Reductionist as only bio

  - PET scans' resolution is lower than other tech
• Raine Ethics +-


  + Approved so guidelines were upheld: consent, limited harm (only one injection)

  - Had to be off meds (schizophrenic)

  - Pressure as part of the NGRI plead (also +)
• Raine used the brain imaging technique called Positron Emission Tomography, which is abbreviated as PET
• What type of experimental method did Raine use in his study?

  Natural experiment
• PET scans involve injecting the participant with a radioactive tracer tagged to glucose.
• What happens to the radioactive tracer in the brain during a PET scan?

  Shows active regions
• The prefrontal cortex, which restrains aggression, showed less activity in the NGRIs compared to the Controls.
• Which brain structure was linked to aggression in cats by previous research?

  Thalamus
• Steps in Raine et al.'s experimental procedure

  1️⃣ Participants are injected with a glucose tracer

  2️⃣ Participants perform the Continuous Performance Task (CPT)

  3️⃣ PET scan is carried out
• The Continuous Performance Task (CPT) is designed to activate the prefrontal cortex.