Neuroimages as evidence in a mens rea defense: No impact.

• DOI: 10.1037/a0023581
• Publication Date: 2011-06-20T20:45:25Z
• Authors: N. J. Schweitzer; Michael J. Saks; Emily R. Murphy; Adina L. Roskies; Walter Sinnott-Ar...; Lyn M. Gaudet
• Keywords: Culpability; Mens rea; Diminished responsibility; Jury instructions

Recent developments in the neuropsychology of criminal behavior have given rise to concerns that neuroimaging evidence (such as MRI and functional [fMRI] images) could unduly influence jurors. Across four experiments, a nationally representative sample 1,476 jury-eligible participants evaluated written summaries cases which expert testimony was presented support mental disorder exculpatory. The varied extent it neuroscientific explanations neuroimages expert’s conclusion. Despite suggestive findings from previous research, we found no neuroimagery affected jurors’ judgments (verdicts, sentence recom-mendations, defendant’s culpability) over above verbal neuroscience - based testimony. A meta-analysis our experiments confirmed these findings. In addition, more effective than clinical psycho- logical persuading jurors reduced his capacity control actions, although this effect did not translate into differences verdicts.