Raine

Question 1

Aim?

Answer 1

To study brain activity in murderers and non-murderers using positron emission tomography (PET) to find out whether there were differences in areas thought to be involved in violent behaviour

Question 2

Sample?

Answer 2

The experimental group of ‘murderers’ consisted of 39 men and 2 women (mean age of 34.3) each charged with murder or manslaughter and pleaded ‘not guilty by reasons of insanity’ but had been convicted.
The control group of ‘non-murderers’ was matched for sex and age and, for six participants, a diagnosis of schizophrenia. No participants took any medication for at least 2 weeks prior to testing