biological approach Flashcards
Describe the assumption ‘evolutionary influences’
-Theory of evolution has been used to explain how the human mind and behaviour have changed over millions of years so they are adapted to the demands of our individual environments.
-Based on Darwin’s theory of natural selection: the idea that any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individual’s chance of survival an reproduction will be naturally selected: genes will be passed down to the next generation.
-EEA: environment of evolutionary adaptiveness > the environment to which any species is adapted and the selective pressures that exist at that time eg. avoiding fires or snakes > preferred stimulus suggested by Seligman.
Describe the assumption ‘neurotransmitters’
-Neurons are the cells which are found in the brain and nervous system, they work by sending chemical and electrical messages to each other. Dendrites connect chemically with other neurons sending messages across the synapse using neurotransmitters.
-Neurotransmitters + Mental Health: have been found to play a significant role in our mental health. For example, serotonin plays a role in our mood, sleep and appetite, too little serotonin has been found in people with depression > some antidepressant medications therefore work by increasing the availability of serotonin at postsynaptic receptor sites.
-Higher level of neurotransmitter dopamine has been associated with symptoms of Sz, supported by the fact that drugs that block dopamine activity have reduced Sz symptoms.
Bio Debate: The ethics of neuroscience
Understanding Consciousness
-Consciousness refers to your individual awareness of your unique thoughts, memories, feelings. It is our awareness of yourself and the world around you. This part of the debate gets us to question the ethics and moral responsibility of doctors looking after patients who go into comas.
Strength: Koubeissi (2014) - 54yr old woman - electrically stimulated claustrum and she didn’t respond. After, regained consciousness and had no recollection of the event>Can be used to make decisions about patients in a permanent vegetative state.
Weakness: Does that mean life-support should be withdrawn if found to have lost consciousness? Transplanting a human brain organoid into the brain of a rat could provide us with more understanding of consciousness. Is this ethically right to improve our own understanding with animal testing.
Bio Debate: The ethics of neuroscience
Treating Criminal Behaviours
-This part of the debate looks at the criminal justice system and how neuroscience has given us a greater understanding of criminal behaviours.
We need to explore the benefits and drawbacks of using neuroscience to diagnose potential criminals and how we treat existing criminals who have committed crimes.
Strengths: Cherek et al (2002) found that males with a history of criminal behaviour showed a decrease in aggression and impulsiveness after taking an anti-depressant. Raine’s findings can be valuable if we can determine which regions of the brain are affected in criminals, perhaps governments can eventually scan people before they commit any offences. People with abnormal brain structures could, theoretically, be either chemically treated or undergo surgery prior to any offence being committed.
Weaknesses: Farah (2004)if the criminal justice system uses neuroscience to alter the behaviour of prisoners, they are being denied of their individual freedom, i.e. the freedom to exert their free will and think their own thoughts. Raine et al’s (1997) research could result in a person being removed from society or given a compulsory ‘treatment’ purely based on their brain structure.
Bio Debate: The ethics of neuroscience
Enabling neurological function
-This looks at neuroenhancement and how neuroscience- based techniques and technology can enhance cognitive function by acting directly on our brains and nervous system. This can then alter our performance.
Strengths: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS) involves passing a small electrical current across specific parts of the brain through electrodes on the scalp to enhance performance. Kadosh et al (2012) found that TDCS led to an improvement in problem solving, mathematical, language, memory and attention capabilities. Neuroscience has helped to develop effective treatments for disorders eg. Drugs such as SSRI’s (Prozac) have been produced as a result of neuroscience research that showed how depressed patients have lower levels of serotonin. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is being used to treat similar disorders because neuroscience has increased our understanding of localisation of brain function. It is highly successful (at a lower economic cost than drug treatment). Mayberg et al (2005) found that four out of six patients with severe depression had their symptoms dramatically reduced after having DBS.
Weaknesses: There are ethical issues with TDCS as there are no licensing rules for practitioners. This means that under-qualified individuals could administer the treatment, which could have serious ethical consequences, such as a high risk of physical harm (brain damage).
Bio Debate: The ethics of neuroscience
Improving Marketing Techniques
-Consumer neuroscience uses neuroscience tools to study behaviour of consumers and their decision- making processes. This part of the debate gets us to think about the benefits of improving sales and the ethical issues of potentially manipulating our behaviour.
Strengths: Social desirability bias might mean we don’t give true answers in market research Eye tracking can be used to provide objective evidence of what gets our attention
EEG used to analyse neurological responses
Sands research - used to create highly successful VW advert ‘The Force’ (upped website traffic by half).
Weaknesses: Access to our inner thoughts. Wilson (2008) - allows advertisers to deliver individualised messages manipulating our free will No current ethical guidelines around this - ‘incidental findings’ may occur eg 5% of cases also found abnormal brain function eg tumour.
