Biological approach Classic research : raine, buchsbaum and lacasse

Question 1

Methodology

Answer 1

Participants : 41 murderers (39 males and 2 females)
-all of them has been charged with murder and were pleading Not Guilty For Reasons of Insanity
- all were referred to the imaging centre to obtain evidence
- a control group of 41 was formed by matching each murderer with a normal subject of the same sex and age
- those who were diagnosed as schizophrenic were matched and all controls had been screened for physical and mental health
- the offenders were in custody and were kept medication free for the two weeks before brain scanning

Question 2

Aim of the study

Answer 2

-aim of the study was to look at direct measures of both cortical and subcortical brain functioning using PET scans in a group of murderers who have pleaded NGRI
- it was thought that murderers would show evidence of brain dysfunction in their prefrontal cortex as well as in other areas that are linked to violence

Question 3

PET scans

Answer 3

• how do they work?
  
  • works by detecting a radioactive substance inside the body and making images that show where the radiation is concentrated
    strengths
  • offer high levels of precision and control
  • enables us to see brain function as well as structure
    weaknesses
  • poses ethical issues as participants are exposed to small amounts of radiation
  • very expensive
  • limit of injections given so it can only be used a few times
  • invasive procedure

Question 4

Procedures

Answer 4

• a radioactive glucose tracer was injected into each participant and taken up by the brain for a 32 minute period
• during this 32 minute period each participant completed a continuous performance (CPT)
  
  • participants were asked to click a mouse at the appropriate time
  • told they will see or hear the number 1 or 2 and they should click when presented with 1 not 2
  • the tasks were to identify are active when attention is given to specific tasks
    -all participants were given a PET scan
    -the NGRIs were compared with the controls on the level of activity in the right and left hemispheres of the brain in 14 selected areas

Question 5

Findings

Answer 5

-the study found REDUCED activity in the brain of the NGRI participants in areas linked to violence such as the : prefrontal cortex, left angular gyrus, corpus callosum

• found INCREASED activity in the brain of NGRI participants in areas not previously linked to violence such as the : cerebellum, the amygdala, thalamus and hippocampus
• the study found NO DIFFERENCE between the NRGI group and controls in areas not previously linked to violence such as the : caudate, putamen, globus pallidus

Question 6

Findings summary

Answer 6

• there was reduced activity in some areas, notably the areas linked to violence
• no differences in many brain structures, notably structures associated with mental illness but not violence
• murderers pleading NGRI have statistically significant differences in glucose metabolism in selected regions compared to normal controls

findings cannot be generalised from NGRI murder cases to other types of violent offenders

• findings do not establish a casual link between brain dysfunction and criminality

Question 7

Evaluation ( methodological )

Answer 7

-research lacks population validity which limits the generalisability of the findings to a broader population, conclusions drawn may not be applicable as it doesn’t represent the diversity of a larger population

-the methodology used was a meta analytical approach, this allows for a more in depth exploration of the relationship between biological factors and anti social behaviour which can offer a broader perspective

• This situation could potentially enhance the internal validity of the research as the participants’ activity before the scan, being a general and non-violent task, reduces the likelihood of confounding variables related to violent behavior influencing the results. By ensuring that the pre-scan task is not behaviorally relevant to violent acts, the study can more confidently attribute any observed effects to the specific biological factors under investigation, thereby strengthening the internal validity of the research.

Question 8

Evaluation ( ethical )

Answer 8

• Injecting all participants with a glucose tracer can raise ethical concerns as it involves administering a substance that may not be directly related to the research objectives or the participants’ well-being. participants should not be subjected to any unnecessary
• radioactive glucose tracer can poisonous

some of the participants my not have been fully aware of the research which is an ethical issue because it violates the principle of informed consent. Informed consent is crucial in research ethics as it ensures that participants are aware of the purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits of the study before agreeing.

• keeping medication from offenders can raise ethical issues as they are withholding neccessary medical treatment from individuals who depend on it for their wellbeing.
• could potentially harm the offenders wellbeing

Question 9

Evaluation ( social )

Answer 9

Society punishing murderers can influence research by highlighting the importance of understanding the underlying factors that contribute to criminal behaviour , researchers can gain insights into the complexities of human behaviour and potentially develop interventions to prevent such behaviors in the future. This societal response underscores the significance of research in finding the root causes of criminal actions

-If the findings are influenced by subjectivity in interpreting the scans, it can lead to inaccuracies in the results. introduces a potential bias that may affect the conclusions drawn from the research. Inaccurate interpretations of the scans can impact the validity and reliability of the study, potentially leading to incorrect assumptions about the relationship between biological factors and behavior.