Neurolaw in Latin America: Current Status and Challenges

Despite several decades of growing interest in the concept of neurolaw in English-speaking countries, it is only a recent area of focus in Latin America. The objective of this article was to facilitate evidence-informed public policy by examining the current state of neurolaw in Latin America. To achieve this goal, this systematic review summarizes published articles, books, and book chapters, and discusses seminal legal cases in order to identify the current state of neurolaw in Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. In total, 61 publications were identified, with the majority coming from Mexico (n = 17), Argentina (n = 15), and Colombia (n = 12). None of the published work identified presented empirical research, but many publications discussed complex topics such as criminal responsibility, free will, and neuroethics. The scant literature base and high concentration of publications emanating from three countries suggest that despite its growing impact abroad, more work is needed in this area in order to influence Latin America legislation and on the development of public policies. Future areas of research and policy related implications are discussed.