Description
Book SynopsisAnswers to many legal questions often depend on our understanding of the relationship between the human brain and behavior. While there is no evidence to suggest that violence is the sole result of cognitive impairment, research does suggest that frontal lobe impairment in particular may contribute to the etiology of violent behavior.Murder in the Courtroom presents a comprehensive and detailed analysis of issues most relevant to answering questions regarding the link between cognitive functioning and violence. It is the first book to focus exclusively on the etiology and assessment of cognitive impairment in the context of violent behavior and the challenges courts face in determining the reliability of neuroscience evidence; provide objective discussions of currently available neuropsychological tests and neuroimaging techniques, and their strengths and limitations; provide a methodology for the assessment of cognitive dysfunction in the context of violent behavior that is likely to
Trade ReviewThis book is a fascinating read from cover to cover. It's the best primer on the subject I've ever seen, and likely to have a high impact on a wide variety of audiences. * P. David Mozley, MD, Professor and Chief, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College and New York-Presbyterian Hospital *
Murder in the Courtroom offers an insightful view of the intersection of the law and the science related to violent behaviors. ... Today we are witnessing the rudimentary entry of neuroscience in the courtroom. Undoubtedly, increasingly sophisticated future incursions are certain. This text provides a science-based structure for their interpretation. This scholarly work deserves serious consideration for students and scholars of mind, brain, society, and law. * Mony J. de Leon, EdD, Professor of Psychiatry and Founder and Director of the Center for Brain Health, NYU Langone Medical Center *
Table of ContentsPrologue ; Chapter 1. Violence, Free Will, and Legal Responsibility ; Chapter 2. The Human Brain and Cognition ; Chapter 3. The Basics of Neuroimaging ; Chapter 4. Neuropsychological Assessment ; Chapter 5. The Etiology and Neurobiology of Violence ; Chapter 6. Violence and the Adolescent Brain ; Chapter 7. The Admissibility of Scientific Evidence ; Chapter 8. The Issue of Evidentiary Reliability ; Chapter 9. Malingering and its Assessment ; Chapter 10. Neuroscience and the Law ; Chapter 11. Linking Brain Function and Behavior ; Chapter 12. A Cautionary Tale ; References ; About the Author ; Index
