Neuroscientific Investigation of the Effect of Frontal Lobe Dysfunction on the Legal Validity of Contracts Concluded under Emergency: A Comparative Study in French Law

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Candidate in Private Law, Department of Private Law, Faculty of Administrative Sciences and Economics, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Private Law, Faculty of Administrative Sciences and Economics, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

10.22059/jlq.2025.394808.1007990

Abstract

Introduction
Emergency transactions have long been a subject of discussion in Fiqh and Iranian law. According to Article 206 of the Iranian Civil Code, emergency transactions are generally considered valid and binding. However, this approach faces serious challenges due to the psychological and neurological effects of stress and urgency on decision-making. Neuroscientific findings indicate that severe stress reduces the activity of the prefrontal cortex—responsible for logical decision-making, emotional control, and risk assessment—while increasing the activity of the Amygdala, the center for emotional processing. These neurological changes tend to make decisions by distressed individuals more emotional, impulsive, and irrational, thereby questioning the legal validity and enforceability of emergency transactions and necessitating a reevaluation of Iranian legal frameworks.
Methodology
The present study employs a descriptive-analytical method with an interdisciplinary approach. Scientific data and Neuroscientific findings have been examined alongside the legal texts of Iran and France through a comparative lens. Valid and authoritative sources in neuroscience and comparative law have been collected and analyzed to establish a comprehensive framework for evaluating emergency transactions. The theoretical foundation is based on Neuroscientific theories regarding prefrontal cortex functions in logical decision-making and emotional regulation, as well as the Amygdala’s role in emotional and stress responses. Legally, the principles governing emergency transactions in Iranian and French law are analyzed, highlighting differences in their approaches to accurately reflect the psychological and neurological impacts on transaction validity.
Conclusions
In conclusion, it is proposed that the non-binding status of emergency transactions be conditional upon the presence of demonstrable and genuine effects of emergency on the decision-making process. This approach not only safeguards the legal rights of individuals in emergency but also promotes fairness, stability in transactions, and public trust in the legal system. Integrating neuroscience with the law can contribute to the development of more scientific, equitable, and just judicial practices.

Keywords

References

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Law Quarterly
Volume 55, Issue 3
October 2025
Pages 373-401

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