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# The Brain and Responsibility ## Law, Responsibility, and the Brain The brain plays a significant role in understanding criminal behavior and responsibility. Neuroscience is increasingly used to evaluate the "dangerousness" of individuals, or their likelihood of committing future crimes. This s...

# The Brain and Responsibility ## Law, Responsibility, and the Brain The brain plays a significant role in understanding criminal behavior and responsibility. Neuroscience is increasingly used to evaluate the "dangerousness" of individuals, or their likelihood of committing future crimes. This shift in forensics aims to move from punishment to protecting society. While assessing dangerousness isn't new, the use of brain imaging to link structure and function with future behavior is more recent. Research using brain structure to predict future offenses outperforms traditional methods (for example, the offenders' behavior, drug and alcohol usage, and inhibitory behavioral tasks). ## The Role of the Orbitofrontal Cortex Damage to the orbitofrontal cortex leads to difficulties in controlling impulses and anticipating negative outcomes, which are also crucial for sound decision-making. Mature individuals have more developed orbitofrontal cortices compared to young adults (because this area is one of the last regions of the brain to mature). ## The Temporal Lobe The temporal lobe is crucial for processing auditory information, recognizing objects and faces. Specific areas, like Wernicke's, are located here; damage can lead to problems in understanding and forming words. Patients with damage to the temporal lobe often have difficulty recognizing people and objects by sight. ## The Parietal Lobe The parietal lobe handles touch, pain, temperature, body position, and attention to one's surroundings. It is home to the primary somatosensory cortex. This area coordinates vision with movement. The space opposite to the damaged side of their brain is often a problem for patients who suffer from damage in this lobe. ## Legal Cases The U.S. criminal justice system continually faces challenges in determining maturity, mental illness, and the responsibility for actions. For example: in 2005, 13-year-old Roberto Holguin murdered a 87-year-old man and sent email threats to California Governor Jerry Brown. The case highlights the complexities and struggles of the justice system in dealing with criminal behavior and the factors that influence it. In this specific case, the defendant's release was delayed for the legal maximum time until 25 years old.