Case Studies

Question 1

Wong et al.

Answer 1

AMYGDALA

1997- MRI scans of 19 male criminals; compared to amygdala of 20 ‘normal’ controls
-Criminals had smaller volume of amygdala- more aggressive

Question 2

Beeman

Answer 2

TESTOSTERONE

1947- castrated mice + aggression levels went down
- re-injected with testosterone- aggression levels increased

Question 3

Dabs et al. (1995)

Answer 3

TESTOSTERONE

1995- measure testosterone in saliva of 692 male prisoners
- Higher levels in convicts of violent crimes

Question 4

Phineas Gage

Answer 4

PRE-FRONTAL CORTEX

1848- iron rod destroyed left frontal lobe of brain
- personality changed- more aggressive

Question 5

Raine et al.

Answer 5

PRE-FRONTAL CORTEX

1997- 41 murderers tested with PET scans
- had reduced glucose metabolism in pre- frontal cortex
- brains less active than normal

Question 6

Mark + Ervin

Answer 6

AMYGDALA

1970- electrical stimulation to amygdala
- became very angry- flung herself against wall

Question 7

Dabs et al. (1998)

Answer 7

TESTOSTERONE

1998- tested female prisoners
-testosterone lowest in cases where violence was defensive (provoked)
- testosterone highest in cases of unprovoked violence

Question 8

Case studies for testosterone.

Answer 8

Dabs et al. 1995
Dabs et al. 1998
Beeman

Question 9

Case studies for brain structure.

Answer 9

Amygdala:
- Wong et al.
- Mark + Ervin

Pre-frontal cortex
- Phineas Gage
- Raine et al.