About us

This web resource has emerged from an ESRC Seminar Series on Social Developmental Neuroscience, Ethics and the Law, hosted by the departments of Law and Psychology at the University of Exeter and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council in 2011/12.

Advances in developmental neuroscience have shown that ‘adult-like’ brain systems – ie those required for sophisticated appraisal of one’s actions and potential consequences of such actions – do not become fully mature until later stages of adolescence.

Furthermore, such maturity can be affected by adversity and injury. In the long term this can mean the compromising of key neurological functions – in particular, the capacity to consider complex decisions relating to one’s own welfare and real engagement in society.

Both adversity and injury have been shown to be common in children who offend (and re-offend). However, studies have shown that children who receive adequate treatment for such injuries or illnesses at an early stage in their development may deal more successfully with social integration at a later stage - such as children provided with rehabilitation after brain injury may avoid violent offending.

These advances in developmental neuroscience clearly provide the opportunity to investigate and address issues of policy relating to (compulsory) treatment and youth incarceration and social justice.

Many socio-economic advantages could be gained by achieving better long term outcomes through earlier intervention for such children. However, at the same time, many questions are raised relating to key legal and human rights concepts such as free will, individual choice, personal autonomy etc. For example how should issues such as individual choice be conceptualised in light of the knowledge that the brain's ability for sophisticated levels of understanding and generating coherent decisions is compromised, not just immediately but in the long term?

Addressing issues of policy at the EU level is even more challenging since EU laws are diverse, multi-layered and multi-lingual and the understanding of key principles such as personal autonomy can differ considerably across languages and legal societies.

This web resource aims to continue the collaboration established in the ESRC seminar series between scientists, policymakers and lawmakers to: share advances in the neuroscience of developmental conditions; explore the legal implications of such advances at national and EU levels and produce guidelines for the creation of improved regulation of neuroscience in the UK and the EU.

For further information on the neuroscience and law group at the University of Exeter please contact:

Huw Williams (School of Psychology)
Email: w.h.williams@exeter.ac.uk

Karen McAuliffe (School of Law)
Email: k.mcauliffe@exeter.ac.uk