Brains on Trial with Alan Alda


On September 17, 2013, the McGovern Institute hosted a discussion with a distinguished group of legal and neuroscience experts who the role of neuroscience in the courtroom. From left to right: Alan Alda, Robert Desimone, Nancy Kanwisher, Joshua Greene, Bea Luna, and Stephen J. Morse. Photo: Justin Knight

What if we could peer into the brain to determine guilt or innocence? Could advances in neuroscience help reform our criminal justice system?

On Tuesday, September 17th, the McGovern Institute hosted a discussion with a distinguished group of legal and neuroscience experts who debated these and related questions. Alan Alda moderated the panel of experts, showed clips from his 2-part PBS special, “Brains on Trial,” and engaged the audience in a Q&A session.