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Selective reductions in prefrontal glucose metabolism in murderers
A Raine1, M S Buchsbaum, J Stanley
1Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089-1061.
Biological Psychiatry
|September 15, 1994
Summary
Seriously violent offenders pleading not guilty by reason of insanity show prefrontal cortex dysfunction. This brain imaging study found reduced glucose metabolism in the prefrontal cortex of murderers compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Forensic Psychology
Background:
- Violent offending is a complex issue with potential neurobiological underpinnings.
- Prefrontal cortex dysfunction has been implicated in aggressive behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate prefrontal cortex (PFC) function in seriously violent offenders pleading not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) or incompetent to stand trial (IST).
- To determine if reduced glucose metabolism in the PFC is specific to this offender group.
Main Methods:
- Positron emission tomography (PET) was used to measure local cerebral glucose metabolism.
- A continuous performance task was administered to 22 murderers (NGRI/IST) and 22 matched controls.
- Glucose uptake in various brain regions was compared between groups.
Main Results:
- Murderers exhibited significantly lower glucose metabolism in the lateral and medial prefrontal cortex compared to controls.
- No significant differences were found in posterior frontal, temporal, or parietal regions, indicating regional specificity.
- Group differences were not attributable to factors like left-handedness, schizophrenia, or head injury.
Conclusions:
- Preliminary findings suggest that prefrontal cortex deficits may be associated with severe violence in a specific subset of offenders.
- Further research is required to confirm these results and assess generalizability to the broader population of violent offenders.