Neural Theories

Question 1

What are frontal lobes important for?

Answer 1

Motor function, impulse control and social/sexual behaviour

Question 2

What happened to Phinneas Gage?

Answer 2

Phineas Gage had suffered from frontal lobe damage from an accident, which had drastically altered his behaviour and personality

Question 3

What are PET scans used for + what has been found?

Answer 3

Monitor brainwave activity - found murderers have reduced brain wave activity in their frontal lobe
Murders lack control of impulsive behaviour

Question 4

Real life application of a criminal with brain damage?

Answer 4

Arthur Shawcross - suffered two incidents when he was younger, hit in the head with a sports discus + fell of a ladder and concussed himself

Question 5

What are the strengths of using brain damage as an explanation?

Answer 5

Criminals are more likely to suffer from brain damage than non criminals
Real life application - Arthur Shawcross, Phinneas Gage

Question 6

What are the limitations of using brain damage as an explanation?

Answer 6

Not clear on whether abnormal brain wave activity = criminality, some criminals have normal brain wave activity
Cause and effect? Brain damage could be an effect of criminality rather than a cause

Question 7

What are the three parts of biochemical explanations?

Answer 7

Sex Hormones
Substance Abuse
Serotonin + Tryptophan