Biological Debate Flashcards
Outline the supporting argument for neuroscience is ethical due to neuroimaging.
One reason neuroscience is ethical is because it shows how brain scans can be used to assess potential dangerousness.
Give an example for the supporting argument for neuroscience is ethical due to neuroimaging.
Raine et al - used PET scans to look at brain functioning in a group of murderers. They found higher activity in the occipital lobe, lower activity in the prefrontal, parietal, corpus callosum and hemispheric asymmetry in the amygdala, medial temporal lobe, hippocampus and thalamus.
Give a social implication for the supporting argument for neuroscience is ethical due to neuroimaging.
Can improve the quality of life for people suffering with severe mental health conditions. So they can lead a happier/easier life and do things they couldn’t before.
Link the supporting argument for neuroscience is ethical due to neuroimaging to the question.
This shows it’s ethical as it can be used to identify dangerousness and treat/reduce it, creating a safer society.
Outline the opposing argument for neuroscience is unethical due to neuroimaging.
Neuroimaging may not be ethical due to brain scans often using harmful chemicals being injected into the body.
Give an example for the opposing argument for neuroscience is unethical due to neuroimaging.
PET scans - radioactive glucose is injected to highlight active areas of the brain. Radioactivity - harmful as can damage cells/cause cancer if injected multiple times within a short period of time. CT scans also use radioactivity. Scientists observed a male patient to see the effect of radiation exposure - WBCs decreased and the sperm.
Give a weakness of the opposing argument for neuroscience is unethical due to neuroimaging.
Can be used as evidence for NGRI murderers. This may lead to easier sentences and people getting a lower sentence then they deserve.
Link the opposing argument for neuroscience is unethical due to neuroimaging to the question.
This shows it is unethical as it doesn’t protect the patient from harm.
Outline the supporting argument for neuroscience is ethical due to brain enhancement.
Neuroscience is ethical as it can help improve how people feel about themselves.
Give an example for the supporting argument for neuroscience is ethical due to brain enhancement.
Healthy people have taken SSRIs in the absence of mental illness and reported negative feelings like anxiety/sadness/guilt are decreased but self-esteem and confidence rise.
Give an economic implication for the supporting argument for neuroscience is ethical due to brain enhancement.
If people start buying medication for recreational purposes, the may become more expensive. So people who actually need it to treat their illness become disadvantaged as they may not be able to afford it, or it’s not available as often.
Link the supporting argument for neuroscience is ethical due to brain enhancement to the question.
Neuroscience is ethical as it can increase well-being of a person and they have subtle positive influence on the quality of people’s interactions socially.
Outline the opposing argument for neuroscience is unethical due to brain enhancement.
Psychostimulants may impair the meaning of knowledge/disturbs the normal memory processes.
Give an example for the opposing argument for neuroscience is unethical due to brain enhancement.
Brain enhancement involves intervening in a complex system with unanticipated consequences and long term side effects. Psychostimulants like methylphenidate may increase the short term capacity of the working memory at the expense of info.
Give a social implication for the opposing argument for neuroscience is unethical due to brain enhancement.
People who take it just to improve mood or performance may become reliant on the medication and struggle to function without it. This may led to an addiction.
Link the opposing argument for neuroscience is unethical due to brain enhancement to the question.
The natural balance between remembering and forgetting could be disturbed by an overload of memories stored in the brain. This decreases well-being as they may start to forget important things leading to mental illness.
Outline the supporting argument for neuroscience is ethical due to neurotechnology.
DBS can be used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
Give an example for the supporting argument for neuroscience is ethical due to neurotechnology.
Pulse generator is placed under the skin around the chest/stomach area. It’s connected to 1 or 2 fine wires that are inserted in areas of the brain. When it’s switched on, electrodes deliver high-frequency stimulation to the targeted brain area. This stimulation changes some of the electrical signal in the brain that cause the symptoms of Parkinson’s.
Give an ethical implication for the supporting argument for neuroscience is ethical due to neurotechnology.
Not enough research has been done on this subject as research is very expensive. It’s hard to do research using DBS as it’s costly so there may be unknown side effects that cause more harm than good.
Link the supporting argument for neuroscience is ethical due to neurotechnology to the question.
This shows that neurotechnology is ethical as it can help improve the quality of life for people suffering.
Outline the opposing argument for neuroscience is unethical due to neurotechnology.
Neurotechnology could lead to brain dysfunction.
Give an example for the opposing argument for neuroscience is unethical due to neurotechnology.
Elon Musk has designed a microchip called neuralink which aims to connect humans and computers. They record the electrical signals that the brain produces, process them in real time. They then send the info via Bluetooth to an app. However, many people have questioned the ethics of neuralinks as development in the area could lead to interfaces for robotic control or mind control.
Give an economic implication for the opposing argument for neuroscience is unethical due to neurotechnology.
It’s expensive. This means that poorer people may be priced out of access as they cannot access the top tech.
Link the opposing argument for neuroscience is unethical due to neurotechnology to the question.
This shows neuroscience isn’t ethical as it could lead to brain dysfunction and/or may damage the brain meaning it doesn’t protect the patient from harm.
