biological approach contemporary debate Flashcards
introduction
Neuroscience refers to any or all of the sciences, such as neurochemistry and experimental psychology, which deal with the structure or function of the nervous system and brain. It includes developmental neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, and molecular and cellular neuroscience. While neuroscience has contributed to medical, criminal, and commercial fields, it raises ethical concerns regarding autonomy, consent, and potential misuse.
para 1
One argument supporting the ethicality of neuroscience is that it provides answers about consciousness. Crick and Koch (1998) suggested that the claustrum, a thin sheet of neurons in the centre of the brain, is the location of consciousness. Evidence comes from a 54-year-old woman with severe epilepsy who underwent tests where an electrode was placed near the claustrum. When electrically stimulated, she stopped reading, stared blankly, and did not respond to commands. When the stimulation ceased, she regained consciousness with no recollection of the event. This knowledge could help doctors make decisions about patients in a persistent vegetative state, such as determining whether life support should continue. Socially, this could improve end-of-life care, ensuring decisions are based on medical evidence. Economically, it could reduce healthcare costs by withdrawing treatment from patients with no hope of recovery.
para 2
However, identifying the location of consciousness raises ethical concerns. One implication is that it could justify removing life support from individuals in a persistent vegetative state. Just because someone has lost consciousness, does that give us the moral right to withdraw care? Additionally, the evidence is based on a single case study of a woman with epilepsy, making it difficult to generalise findings to all individuals. Ethical concerns arise over making life-or-death decisions based on limited evidence, highlighting the need for further research before such findings influence medical policy.
para 3
Another argument for the ethicality of neuroscience is its potential to treat criminal behaviour. A key function of the criminal justice system is to rehabilitate offenders, and neuroscience offers solutions by addressing potential biological causes of crime. Some suggest that abnormal neurotransmitter levels contribute to aggression, which could be treated with medication. Cherek et al. (2002) studied male offenders with a history of impulsivity and aggression. Half were given a placebo for 21 days, while the other half received paroxetine (an SSRI antidepressant). Those who took paroxetine showed decreased impulsive responses and lower aggression. This suggests that pharmacological treatments could reduce reoffending rates. Socially, this could lead to a safer society with fewer violent crimes. Economically, it could reduce the costs associated with incarceration by lowering recidivism.
para 4
However, using neuroscience to treat criminal behaviour raises ethical concerns. While neuroscientists may argue that crime stems from neurological imbalances, many believe it results from social factors. Should neurological interventions be mandatory for prisoners? Farah (2004) argued that using such interventions denies individuals the freedom to maintain their personality and thoughts. If courts offer a choice between a prison sentence and medication, offenders may feel forced into taking the drug, raising ethical concerns about consent. Additionally, there are questions about the long-term effects of such treatments and whether they truly rehabilitate offenders or merely suppress symptoms of aggression.
para 5
Neuroscience is also used in marketing, which can be seen as ethical. Eye-tracking equipment helps overcome social desirability bias, where people alter their responses to appear in a good light. Eye-tracking provides objective data on what captures a person’s attention, leading to more accurate marketing strategies. EEG technology can also measure brain activity in response to advertisements. IKEA is one company that utilises eye-tracking in store design. By analysing where customers naturally focus their attention, IKEA arranges products to maximise sales. Economically, this boosts business revenue and contributes to economic growth.
para 6
However, neuromarketing raises ethical concerns. Wilson et al. (2008) argue that accessing consumers’ neural responses allows companies to manipulate decisions, reducing free will. If marketing can subconsciously influence purchases, are consumers making informed choices? Another concern is that neuromarketing firms are not always bound by ethical guidelines. Nelson (2008) found that 5% of neuromarketing researchers encounter ‘incidental findings’, such as brain tumours, but since they are not board-certified medical professionals, they are not required to inform participants. This raises ethical concerns about participant welfare and the potential exploitation of neurological data for corporate gain.
conclusion
In conclusion, neuroscience has clear benefits, such as improving medical decisions, reducing criminal behaviour, and enhancing marketing effectiveness. However, it also raises ethical concerns about autonomy, consent, and misuse. Socially, it can improve public safety and healthcare, but it may also lead to ethical dilemmas regarding life support and criminal rehabilitation. Economically, it can reduce costs in healthcare and the criminal justice system while boosting business profits, but it may also exploit consumers. While neuroscience has great potential, strict ethical guidelines must be in place to ensure its applications remain fair and justifiable.
