How to spot a murderer's brain

The Guardian ^ | Saturday 11 May 2013 | Tim Adams

[null and void]

Scans of a normal brain, left, beside that of murderer Antonio Bustamante, who was spared the death penalty after a jury was shown these pictures. Photograph: Public domain

Adrian Raine, who describes himself as a neurocriminologist, moved from Britain to the US.

In Britain, the causes of crime were allowed to be exclusively social and environmental, the result of disturbed or impoverished nurture, rather than fated and genetic nature. To suggest otherwise ... was to doom yourself to an absence of funding.

Raine cites two very recent brain-imaging studies to back this up. One is a study in New Mexico in which prisoners are scanned on release. "What they are discovering is that if the functioning of the anterior cingulate, part of the limbic system, is lower than normal before release, they are twice as likely to be reconvicted in the next three years. And that marker is more accurate a guide than all other social factors," Raine says. A second study apparently shows if a released prisoner has a significantly smaller volume in the amygdala, the almond-shaped part of the brain crucial for processing memory and emotion, he or she is three times more likely to reoffend. "Now, this is only two studies, but what they are beginning to show is proof of concept, that if we added neurological factors into the equation we could do a better job at predicting future behaviour."

It is perhaps not too wildly far-fetched to imagine that such scans will one day be as routine as immunisation programmes; the bigger question then will be how we begin to react to the results. Raine rather likes the idea of public health programmes as crime prevention: "The teenage brain is still very malleable.

[caww]

WoW! I listened to Jerry Balone’s testimony....not all flowery as some are...he simply tells it like it is. I believe him.

[daniel1212]

Making the HUGE assumption that a brain scan can separate the wheat from the chaff, I’m willing to use this tool as an aid for determining which ones are legitimate changes of heart/conversions and factoring that in in decisions for parole and or early release.

I see this as reasonable as an aid, and was objecting to too much credibility and reliance relative to it, and the door that would open. Do they have brain scans for voting liberal and thus murderous?

Wash DC leads the nation in per capita number of law enforcement.

[daniel1212]

he simply tells it like it is. I believe him.

Though an Catholic, "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." (Psalms 34:18)

Thank God for His mercy.

[Age of Reason]

If he comes into your home here in Texas, you can examine it on the floor, walls and ceiling.

ROFL

[Age of Reason]

This fellow is confusing cause and effect.

How do we know that criminal behavior does not change the brain, like digging with a shovel creates callouses on the hand?

[null and void]

How do you know he IS confusing cause and effect.

You've given a good example of how he MAY BE confusing cause and effect.

Still, it's an interesting hypothesis. If it were true we could dispense with the trial, just give the accused a brain scan.

Of course we'd have to neglect all those pesky people, who, like the researcher, have the reduced frontal lobe activity and are not known to have murdered anybody...

[Elsie]

Scans of a normal brain, left, beside that of murderer Antonio Bustamante, who was spared the death penalty after a jury was shown these pictures.

It sure convinces ME!!!!

[null and void]

Nah. Clearly a political agenda to put the normal brain on the left!

[caww]

His mercy....what Love!

[Elsie]

I wonder what the scan of a brain of a person that scoffs “old news” off as an issue not worthy of contemporary consideration looks like, compared to one that does not...

How old do you want??

---

Philippians 2:5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

[Elsie]

I wonder what the scan of a brain of a person that scoffs “old news” off as an issue not worthy of contemporary consideration looks like, compared to one that does not...

Are you still killing your unborn?

-- GOD

 

[Elsie]

The first was a sense of banging his head against a wall.

Which; I am told; will make ANYone's "brainscan" appear quite pixelated...

[Elsie]

It’s a risk to go off half cocked with these studies.

The famed researcher, Lorena Bobbit, agrees with you.

[Elsie]

Further research has shown the two images to be reversed. When confronted with this fact, the OLD researcher was reported to have said:

"What difference does it make?"

[Elsie]

You are 100% correct about how wrong it would be to use this science for “preventive execution” of anyone, who has not actually yet committed a crime.

You speak as though the CHOICE of a choosey mother should be taken away from her!

[Elsie]

“Is it possible...”

[Elsie]

Why?

Because we LIKE you!

[Elsie]

Show me a way of verifying that any prison conversion has turned a rabid dog into someone you personally would trust with you own children and we can talk.

Then NO one could be around them; I suppose.

I'm sure glad there are no instances of siblings molesting themselves!

[Elsie]

The one on the right looks like a teddy bear, how can that be the brain of a killer?

Yes: HOW?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YDndFOtBy-E

[null and void]

I'm referring to convicted murderers, people who have already demonstrated the willingness, ability and have acted to grossly harm another.

Attempting to conflate them with normal siblings is disingenuous at best.

Or perhaps I misunderstand your intentions?

What, exactly, was the purpose of that post?