(10) Unit 1 – Classic Research: Raine et al’s (1997) ‘Brain Abnormalities in Murderers’ (procedures)

What is FDG?

Fluorodeoxyglucose - radioactive tracer used to trace brain activity.

How long before participants received the FDG injection were they given practice trials on a continuous performance task (CPT)?

10 minutes.

Why was the task started 30 seconds before the injection?

So the initial task novelty would not affect the results of the PET scan.

How long was the FDG taken up by the brain for?

A 32-minute period.

What did the participant do in the 32-minute period?

Completed a continuous performance task (CPT).

What happened at the end of the 32-minute period?

The participant was transferred to a PET scanner where the brain was scanned in 10mm horizontal slices.

How is the PET scanner able to detect brain activity?

It detects the gamma rays emitted from the injection.

How was the PET scan data analysed?

Using the cortical peel and box techniques.