Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Reason and Intuition01:37

Reason and Intuition

The human brain processes information for decision-making using one of two routes: an intuitive system and a rational system (Epstein, 1994; popularized by Kahneman, 2011 as System 1 and System 2, respectively). The intuitive system is quick, impulsive, and operates with minimal effort, relying on emotions or habits to provide cues for what to do next, while the rational system is logical, analytical, deliberate, and methodical. Research in neuropsychology suggests that the brain can only use...
Decision Making01:20

Decision Making

Decision-making is a fundamental cognitive process that involves evaluating alternatives and selecting among them. This process can range from simple choices, such as deciding what to wear, to complex decisions, like choosing a major in college or a career path. The complexity of the decision often dictates the approach we use, which can be broadly categorized into two types: automatic and controlled decision-making.
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
The Behavioral Perspective on Personality01:19

The Behavioral Perspective on Personality

Behaviorists view personality as primarily shaped by environmental reinforcements and consequences. According to this perspective, behavior is influenced by external stimuli, and individuals adjust their actions based on rewards and punishments. Over time, learning histories — accumulated patterns of reinforcement — play a significant role in shaping personality. Behaviors that lead to positive outcomes are reinforced, while those resulting in negative outcomes are diminished. Radical...
Organization of the Brain01:31

Organization of the Brain

The brain is an integral component of the nervous system and serves as the center for processing sensory inputs, making decisions, and directing bodily actions. This complex organ is organized into three primary sections: the hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain, each responsible for a range of vital functions.
Hindbrain
The hindbrain, located at the base of the brain, plays a vital role in regulating automatic processes that sustain life. It includes the medulla oblongata, which is essential for...
Introduction to Biological Bases of Psychology01:30

Introduction to Biological Bases of Psychology

Biopsychology serves as a vital bridge connecting the intricate domains of biology and psychology, shedding light on how biological systems influence psychological phenomena. This field scrutinizes the biological substrates of behavior and mental processes, emphasizing the nervous system along with the roles of neurotransmitters, hormones, and genetics. It also incorporates evolutionary perspectives to explain the adaptive nature of mental functions.
The nervous system, the cornerstone of...
Decision Making: Traditional Method01:14

Decision Making: Traditional Method

The process of hypothesis testing based on the traditional method includes calculating the critical value, testing the value of the test statistic using the sample data, and interpreting these values.
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is decided based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to this claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses, out of which a null hypothesis would be a...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Neurodiversity in Nursing: Time to Talk About This?

Journal of clinical nursing·2026
Same author

How impulsivity and sensation seeking drive IGD tendency in healthy young adults: A resting-state MRI study.

Journal of behavioral addictions·2025
Same author

Implementing innovative technology promoting self-awareness of brain health and self-determination in obtaining a timely dementia diagnosis: protocol for a multimethods, concurrent, two-part observational study.

BMJ open·2025
Same author

First Report of Diplodia Shoot Blight and Canker Disease Caused by <i>Diplodia sapinea</i> on Ponderosa Pine in Colorado, USA.

Plant disease·2024
Same author

Venous Thromboembolism Rates in Trauma Patients Significantly Increase With Missed Prophylactic Enoxaparin Doses.

The American surgeon·2024
Same author

Increased ventral anterior insular connectivity to sports betting availability indexes problem gambling.

Addiction biology·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2026

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

Decision making and free will: a neuroscience perspective.

Kelly Burns1, Antoine Bechara

  • 1Brain and Creativity Institute and Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.

Behavioral Sciences & the Law
|March 30, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Neuroscience reveals that decision-making is influenced by unconscious processes, challenging the traditional concept of free will. This challenges legal systems and suggests a need for more humane, evidence-based approaches.

More Related Videos

An Automated T-maze Based Apparatus and Protocol for Analyzing Delay- and Effort-based Decision Making in Free Moving Rodents
07:42

An Automated T-maze Based Apparatus and Protocol for Analyzing Delay- and Effort-based Decision Making in Free Moving Rodents

Published on: August 2, 2018

Perspectives on Neuroscience
26:41

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 16, 2026

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

An Automated T-maze Based Apparatus and Protocol for Analyzing Delay- and Effort-based Decision Making in Free Moving Rodents
07:42

An Automated T-maze Based Apparatus and Protocol for Analyzing Delay- and Effort-based Decision Making in Free Moving Rodents

Published on: August 2, 2018

Perspectives on Neuroscience
26:41

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Philosophy of Mind
  • Legal Studies

Background:

  • The concept of
  • free will
  • is fundamental to legal and ethical systems.
  • Neuroscience offers insights into the mechanisms of decision-making.
  • Implicit cognitive processes significantly influence choices, often outside conscious awareness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the concept of
  • free will
  • through the lens of neural decision-making mechanisms.
  • To examine how neuroscience findings challenge traditional notions of volition.
  • To explore the implications for legal systems, particularly criminal law.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and analysis of existing neuroscience research on decision-making.
  • Examination of conditions affecting volition, such as brain injury and addiction.
  • Philosophical and legal analysis of neuroscientific evidence.

Main Results:

  • Decision-making is heavily influenced by unconscious neural processes.
  • Conditions like brain injury and addiction demonstrate disorders of the will.
  • Neuroscience findings undermine the traditional basis of
  • free will
  • in legal contexts.

Conclusions:

  • The neuroscience of decision-making contradicts the assumption of absolute free will underpinning current legal frameworks.
  • Neuroscientific discoveries can inform and reprioritize legal intuitions.
  • A more effective and humane legal system may emerge by integrating these insights.