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12 Dec 2025
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Exploring Raine et al.'s Landmark Research Study
madison
@madisonstoneman_tkvn
The Brain Scan Murder Study
Raine, Buchsbaum, and LaCasse wanted to see if murderers who pleaded NGRI had different brain patterns compared to ordinary people. They used PET scans (Positron Emission Tomography) to measure glucose activity in different brain regions - basically seeing which parts of the brain were working harder or less than normal.
The study included 41 murderers (39 men, 2 women, average age 34) who had all pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Each murderer was matched with a control participant of the same age, sex, and mental health status. Before scanning, everyone had to stop taking medication for two weeks.
During the scan, participants were injected with radioactive glucose and had to complete a simple computer task for 32 minutes. They clicked a mouse when they saw or heard the number "1" but ignored "2". This might seem random, but it was designed to activate the brain areas researchers wanted to study.
Key Finding: Murderers showed significantly lower glucose activity in their prefrontal cortex, parietal lobe, and corpus callosum compared to controls - areas crucial for decision-making and impulse control.
Results and Major Limitations
The brain abnormalities found were quite specific. Murderers had reduced activity in areas responsible for planning, self-control, and connecting the brain's hemispheres. However, some regions like the amygdala (emotion centre) showed higher activity than controls.
But here's the massive catch - this study proves absolutely nothing about causation. We can't tell if brain differences caused the violence or if committing murder changed the brain. The researchers were very clear that their findings don't excuse criminal behaviour or suggest PET scans could diagnose future murderers.
The ethical concerns are pretty serious too. Participants were injected with radioactive material and taken off medication. Since they pleaded insanity, could they really give proper consent? There's also the worry that this research might lead to people being labelled as potential killers based on brain scans alone.
Social implications include the scary possibility of pre-crime detection or forcing medication on people with "suspicious" brain patterns. The study's limited to NGRI murderers, so we can't generalise to other violent criminals or predict who might become violent.
Bottom Line: While brain differences exist, the study raises more questions than answers about the relationship between biology and criminal behaviour.
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Rohan U
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I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
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THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
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Paul T
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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
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Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
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Exploring Raine et al.'s Landmark Research Study
madison
@madisonstoneman_tkvn
Ever wondered if murderers' brains are actually different from yours? This fascinating study by Raine and colleagues used brain scanning technology to peek inside the minds of people who killed someone and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI).... Show more
The Brain Scan Murder Study
Raine, Buchsbaum, and LaCasse wanted to see if murderers who pleaded NGRI had different brain patterns compared to ordinary people. They used PET scans (Positron Emission Tomography) to measure glucose activity in different brain regions - basically seeing which parts of the brain were working harder or less than normal.
The study included 41 murderers (39 men, 2 women, average age 34) who had all pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Each murderer was matched with a control participant of the same age, sex, and mental health status. Before scanning, everyone had to stop taking medication for two weeks.
During the scan, participants were injected with radioactive glucose and had to complete a simple computer task for 32 minutes. They clicked a mouse when they saw or heard the number "1" but ignored "2". This might seem random, but it was designed to activate the brain areas researchers wanted to study.
Key Finding: Murderers showed significantly lower glucose activity in their prefrontal cortex, parietal lobe, and corpus callosum compared to controls - areas crucial for decision-making and impulse control.
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Improve your grades
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Results and Major Limitations
The brain abnormalities found were quite specific. Murderers had reduced activity in areas responsible for planning, self-control, and connecting the brain's hemispheres. However, some regions like the amygdala (emotion centre) showed higher activity than controls.
But here's the massive catch - this study proves absolutely nothing about causation. We can't tell if brain differences caused the violence or if committing murder changed the brain. The researchers were very clear that their findings don't excuse criminal behaviour or suggest PET scans could diagnose future murderers.
The ethical concerns are pretty serious too. Participants were injected with radioactive material and taken off medication. Since they pleaded insanity, could they really give proper consent? There's also the worry that this research might lead to people being labelled as potential killers based on brain scans alone.
Social implications include the scary possibility of pre-crime detection or forcing medication on people with "suspicious" brain patterns. The study's limited to NGRI murderers, so we can't generalise to other violent criminals or predict who might become violent.
Bottom Line: While brain differences exist, the study raises more questions than answers about the relationship between biology and criminal behaviour.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
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Most popular content: Positron Emission Tomography (pet) Scan
Most popular content in Psychology
Most popular content
English - inspector calls quotes and analysis
Quotes from every main character
English Literature10
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user