raine buchsbaum & lacasse: NGRI murderers

what is the aim of Raine's research?

to look at direct measures of both cortical and subcortical brain functioning using PET scans in a group of murderers who have pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity

what is the IV of Raine's research?

NGRI murderer or non-murderer

what is the DV of Raine's research?

the brain activity measured on a PET scan

what type of experiment is Raine's research?

quasi experiment - naturally occurring IV (NGRI murderers/ non-murderers)

what is the experimental design of Raine's research?

matched pairs (control group matched on age, sex and the 6 SZ murderers were individually matched with 6 schizophrenics for the control

ethical issue of raine's research: lack of valid consent

- murderers pleading NGRI

- may not fully understand what research was for

- SZ and brain injury P's have impaired cognitive functioning

- to be ethical: should be fully explained to P's or responsible adult who agrees for their participation

ethical issue of raine's research: risk of psychological harm

- if P's found CPT difficult -> may have lowered self-esteem

- stress or embarrassment can be significant for P's with epilepsy or personality disorders

- to be ethical: debrief P's and explain that CPT performance was just a task to keep the brain active

lower glucose metabolism in NGRIs

- prefrontal

- parietal

- corpus callosum

higher glucose metabolism in NGRIs

- occipital

- caudate

- putamen

- globus pallidus

- cerebellum

- midbrain

no difference in glucose metabolism

temporal lobe

difference in hemispheric asymmetry

- amygdala

- medial temporal lobe

- hippocampus

- thalamus