Neurolaw

Question 1

What was the story of Charles Whitman?

Answer 1

In 1966, he shot and killed 13 people and then his wife. In his suicide note, he wrote about how his behaviour and thought patterns suddenly changed to become erratic. After his death, they found a tumour pressing on his amygdala.

Question 2

How can pedophilic behaviour be explained by brain structure?

Answer 2

Tumours, eg. in the example of a man in 2000 who had a tumour removed and his pedophilic impulses reduced.

Question 3

What percentage of patients with frontotemporal dementia violate social norms?

Answer 3

57%

Question 4

What has the anti-Parkinson’s drug pramipexole been shown to cause?

Answer 4

Sudden gambling addictions

Question 5

What interesting fact does Eagleman give about ugly people?

Answer 5

They’re more likely to be found guilty.

Question 6

Aspinwall et al.

Answer 6

Judges give more lenient sentences to psychopaths with neurological abnormalities

Question 7

Kreuzer et al.

Answer 7

Substance abuse led to both brain injury and legal troubles. Brain damage research shows a lack of cause and effect

Question 8

What are the implications of Neurolaw?

Answer 8

We should not assume free will and arbitrarily assign moral blame. The justice system should be based on risk-assessment, rehabilitation and reducing recidivism

Question 9

What happens after judges have eaten lunch?

Answer 9

they exhibit more more clemency