About this talk
In this powerful TEDMED 2020 Talk, Neurolaw Rebel Francis X. Shen makes a compelling case for merging the field of neuroscience with the legal system to move our society constantly closer to the truth. Neuroscience aids the informed decision making of attorneys and judges to use brain evidence for more effective criminal sentences, helps us protect individuals with cognitive disabilities from predatory financial scams, and so much more.
Francis believes that in the law “every story is a brain story”. The law and neuroscience revolution will lead to many discoveries that will inform our pursuit of justice in law and policy. Watch his talk “Why every story is a brain story”.
About Francis X. Shen
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Dr. Francis X. Shen is a leading expert in the evolving field of neurolaw, which studies the connection between the brain and the legal system. He works to understand how discoveries in neuroscience can help make our laws both equitable and effective. Francis’s motto is “Every story is a brain story,” which highlights that brain science is critical to understanding human behavior in a legal context. As the director of the Shen Neurolaw Lab, he conducts research on the legal, ethical, and practical issues that arise when neuroscience is used in court. His work explores a wide range of topics, from using brain scans to understand a person’s mental state to applying neuroscience in criminal justice and personal injury cases. Francis holds multiple prestigious roles. He is the Executive Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Law, Brain, and Behavior and an instructor at Harvard Medical School. He also serves as a professor at the University of Minnesota Law School and is a faculty member in the university’s Neuroscience Program. Francis is well-published and a highly respected voice in this emerging field. His work aims to ensure that as neuroscience advances, the legal system can adapt in a way that is both scientifically sound and ethically responsible.