"Brain Mapping:" Positive Results An Excuse for Violent Crimes?

Can 'brain mapping' explain the brutality of some crimes?

For years, researchers have used computerized "brain mapping'' technology to read human brain waves in an attempt to diagnose maladies from attention deficit disorder to dementia.

But can the same technology be used to explain the brutality exhibited by killer Grady Nelson, who stabbed his wife 61 times in South Miami-Dade, then raped and stabbed her 11-year-old mentally disabled daughter?

His defense lawyers believe so, saying the technology proved that brain damage had left Nelson prone to impulse and violence. Now, they are trumpeting the "QEEG brain mapping'' technology after a jury, in a controversial Dec. 2 decision, rejected the death penalty and voted for life in prison.

www.mcclatchydc.com...

So what are your thoughts on this? Even if you are anti-death penalty, can you imagine a scenario where a criminal is "let go" due to the positive results of a "brain map"?

Prone to being impulsive and violent is not the same thing as mentally handicapped or insane. Being prone to such things does not render him incompetent.

It's much the same as an alcoholic. Sure, many alcoholics are genetically prone to be that way, but the thing that brings the trait out is that person's choice to pick up a drink.

reply to post by gnosticquasar

Prone to being impulsive and violent is not the same thing as mentally handicapped or insane. Being prone to such things does not render him incompetent.

It's much the same as an alcoholic. Sure, many alcoholics are genetically prone to be that way, but the thing that brings the trait out is that person's choice to pick up a drink.

But the article states that due to the "brain map," the defendent's lawyers were able to argue that "prior brain damage" left him incompetent. If that is the case, then he is not like the alcoholic that *chooses* to pick up the drink, is he?

Originally posted by sonjah1
Can 'brain mapping' explain the brutality of some crimes?

...the qeeg explanation of why this guy did what he did should have been ruled irrelevant and not allowed to be part of the trial... he committed the crimes... the reasons why do not lessen the crimes and should not affect sentencing...

Originally posted by sonjah1
can you imagine a scenario where a criminal is "let go" due to the positive results of a "brain map"?

...sure, its possible, especially if the criminal is rich because money can sway test results and/or interpretations... more than likely, this will play out with fewer violent criminals being executed in lieu of life-time housing and being used a "test subject", all at taxpayers' expense, of course...

reply to post by Wyn Hawks

...the qeeg explanation of why this guy did what he did should have been ruled irrelevant and not allowed to be part of the trial... he committed the crimes... the reasons why do not lessen the crimes and should not affect sentencing...

He was deemed "brain damaged" on the parts of the brain that control impulse and behavior. Thus, shouldn't he be treated the same as someone who is mentally ill/insane?