Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
07:28
Psychophysically-anchored, Robust Thresholding in Studying Pain-related Lateralization of Oscillatory Prestimulus Activity
Published on: January 21, 2017
Behavioral and Cognitive Equivalence Threshold: Foundations for the Practical Extension of Atkins and Roper.
1Department of Psychiatry, Section for Neurodevelopment and Psychosis, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Behavioral Sciences & the Law
|June 22, 2026
Summary
Neuroscience can now measure cognitive capacities, supporting legal protections against the death penalty for individuals with impaired brain function. Behavioral and Cognitive Equivalence (BACE) offers a method to assess diminished capacity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Law
- Forensic Psychology
Background:
- US Supreme Court rulings (Atkins, Roper) prohibit death sentences for individuals lacking full culpability.
- Neuroscience advancements allow direct measurement of behavioral and cognitive capacities relevant to culpability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To integrate contemporary neuroscience with constitutional principles of proportionality in capital punishment.
- To operationalize the assessment of diminished capacity using neuroscientific methods.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing quantitative neuroimaging (structural and functional metrics) to identify neural impairments.
- Employing norm-referenced data and network-level analysis.
- Developing the Behavioral and Cognitive Equivalence (BACE) framework to compare individual functioning to exempt groups.
Main Results:
- Neural systems for judgment, inhibition, and reasoning mature heterogeneously and can be impaired.
- Neuroimaging can identify statistically defined thresholds of neural impairment.
- BACE provides a transparent and reproducible method for assessing diminished capacity.
Conclusions:
- Contemporary neuroscience supports extending categorical protection from capital punishment.
- Individuals with measurable impairments rendering them functionally incapable of culpability should receive protection.
- BACE aligns with legal precedents (Hall v. Florida, Moore v. Texas) for assessing diminished capacity.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Cognitive Learning
Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
01:18Principle of Equivalence
According to Albert Einstein (1897-1955), free-falling and feeling weightless are intrinsically linked. If a person were in free-fall under gravity, for example, diving towards the Earth from an airplane, they would feel completely weightless. Similarly, a person descending in a lift may feel partially weightless. Broadly speaking, it is assumed that an object in a uniform gravitational field and an object undergoing constant acceleration in the absence of gravity are under the same...
01:24Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) are grounded in the belief that our thoughts profoundly influence our emotions and actions. Advocates of CBT emphasize three core assumptions: first, that cognitions are identifiable and measurable; second, that they are central to psychological functioning; and third, that irrational or maladaptive beliefs can be replaced with rational and adaptive ones. This transformative approach to therapy has paved the way for specific models such as Albert Ellis's...
01:28Behaviorism
The field of behaviorism was pioneered by figures such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner fundamentally shifted the focus of psychology to the observable and controllable aspects of human and animal behavior. This shift marked a critical evolution in the discipline, emphasizing scientific rigor and experimental methodology.
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
01:26Causes of Similarity-Dissimilarity Effect
The similarity-dissimilarity effect, a fundamental concept in social psychology, explains how interpersonal similarities and differences influence attraction and social interactions. This effect is supported by three key psychological perspectives: balance theory, social comparison theory, and consensual validation.Balance Theory and Cognitive ConsistencyBalance theory, developed by Fritz Heider, posits that individuals seek cognitive consistency in their relationships. When two people share...
01:29Theory of Attribution II: Kelley's Covariation Theory
Attribution theory plays a crucial role in social psychology, helping to explain how individuals interpret the causes of behavior. One prominent model within this field is Harold Kelley's covariation theory, which provides a systematic approach to determining whether internal traits or external circumstances drive a person's actions. The model posits that individuals rely on three key types of information—consensus, consistency, and distinctiveness—to make these judgments.Consensus: Comparing...