The human brain is not viewed in the same way as other organs. The brain holds the
key to mind and behaviour, and so to most it has a ‘special’ status. The relatively
young fi eld of neuroscience is the study of the brain and nervous system.
Neuroscientists seek to determine how brain function affects behaviour. The law is
concerned with regulating behaviour, and so it is reasonable to ask whether and if so
how, neuroscience could, or should, inform the law. The Royal Society, the UK’s
national academy of science, has sought here to set out where neuroscience might
offer insights to the law, and current limits to its application.
The human brain is not viewed in the same way as other organs. The brain holds the
key to mind and behaviour, and so to most it has a ‘special’ status. The relatively
young fi eld of neuroscience is the study of the brain and nervous system.
Neuroscientists seek to determine how brain function affects behaviour. The law is
concerned with regulating behaviour, and so it is reasonable to ask whether and if so
how, neuroscience could, or should, inform the law. The Royal Society, the UK’s
national academy of science, has sought here to set out where neuroscience might
offer insights to the law, and current limits to its application.