Neuroscience

September 6, 2026

No Unanimous Answer: Closing Arguments and Criminal Responsibility in the Lindsay Clancy Trial

Introduction

The closely watched Massachusetts murder trial of Lindsay Clancy ended on September 4, 2026, not with a verdict, but with a mistrial after jurors reported that they could not reach unanimous agreement. The result leaves unresolved one of the most difficult questions presented to a criminal jury: when severe mental illness is established, at what point does that illness eliminate criminal responsibility for otherwise intentional acts?

Clancy was charged in connection with the January 24, 2023 deaths of her three children, Cora, Dawson, and Callan Clancy, at the family’s home in Duxbury, Massachusetts. At trial, the central dispute was not whether Clancy had caused the children’s deaths. Instead, the case largely turned on her mental condition and whether the Commonwealth proved that she was criminally responsible when the killings occurred.

August 31, 2026

When Humanlike Robots Make Mistakes: Social Expressiveness and the Fragility of Trust

by David Badertscher

Introduction

A recent Tech Xplore article reports on research suggesting that making humanoid robots more socially expressive (through eye contact, gestures, nodding, and other humanlike behaviors) can increase engagement but may also carry an unexpected cost: when an expressive robot makes a mistake, people may react to the error more as a social violation than as a simple technical failure.

The article, “A Humanoid Robot’s Social Expressiveness May Backfire When It Makes Mistakes,” was written by Ingrid Fadelli and published by Tech Xplore/Phys.org on August 28, 2026, with editing by Robert Egan. It reports on research conducted principally by investigators at Drexel University and published in Science Robotics. The underlying study, by Yigit Topoglu and colleagues, is titled “Multilevel Dynamics of the Brain, Hormones, Mind, and Behavior in Social Human-Robot Interaction.” The following is an overview of the two articles:

August 4, 2026

Here’s What Happens to the Brain When We Stop Drinking Alcohol

by David Badertscher

Washington Post Column by Richard Sima.

August 4, 2026.

ABSTRACT:

January 25, 2026

Brain Stimulation and Crime Prevention: Separating Science from Speculation

by David Badertscher

In recent years, advances in neuroscience have sparked interest in whether brain stimulation technologies might contribute to crime prevention. Techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have been studied for their effects on impulse control, aggression, and moral decision-making traits often associated with criminal behavior. While this research is scientifically intriguing, its relevance to criminal justice policy remains limited and contested.

The Neuroscience Rationale

Much of the interest in brain stimulation stems from findings linking antisocial or impulsive behavior to dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain responsible for executive control, emotional regulation, and judgment. Laboratory studies suggest that stimulating this area can temporarily enhance self control or reduce aggressive responses in controlled settings. These findings have led some commentators to speculate whether neurological interventions could someday complement traditional crime-prevention strategies.