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The neurobiological basis of violence and criminal behaviour is increasingly being recognized. Glenn and Raine review recent 'neurocriminology' studies and discuss whether and how this emerging field may influence the punishment, prediction and prevention of criminal behaviour.
Cognitive and neurobiological changes during development influence the content and longevity of memories for events that occurred in early childhood. Mark L. Howe discusses the implications for court cases in which the main evidence consists of adults' recollections of childhood experiences.
In this Perspective article, Reiss and colleagues summarize the most recent neuroimaging studies attempting to determine the neural correlates of humour and discuss the influence of sex, personality traits and certain psychiatric disorders on humour appreciation.
Brain imaging techniques have recently been able to reveal awareness and even allow rudimentary communication in some patients who have been diagnosed as being in the vegetative state. In this Perspective, Fernández-Espejo and Owen discuss these developments and consider their diagnostic, judicial and ethical implications.
Neuroscientific evidence is increasingly offered in court cases, with neuroscientists often acting as expert witnesses. Jones and colleagues discuss the important roles that neuroscientists serve, as well as the potential problems they, as well as judges and jurors, may encounter.
Psychology and neuroscience studies have shown that memory is a reconstructive process that is susceptible to distortion. Lacy and Stark summarize the evidence and discuss how this insight could be applied to police and courtroom procedures.
The possession of psychoactive drugs is subject to national and international regulations. In this Perspective article, Nuttet al. discuss how this situation makes it extremely difficult to obtain licences and investigate both the therapeutic potential and the potential dangers of psychoactive drugs.
The changes that occur in the brain during adolescence have been a topic of increasing interest in the past decade. Steinberg discusses how progress in adolescent brain research has influenced US Supreme Court decisions in three landmark cases about the criminal culpability of adolescents.
