biological debate - neuroscience

Question 1

the 3 points?

Answer 1

1. treat/prevent and understand criminal behaviour
2. treat abnormal behaviour to improve mental health through therapies
3. enhance neurological function

Question 2

point 1?

Answer 2

1 = treat and understand criminal behaviour
we could argue that neuroscience is ethical as it can be used to rehabilitate offenders or prevent offences from being committed.
-raine’s findings can be valuable because if we cab determine regions of the brain that are affected in criminals perhaps the government can scan people before they commit any offences.
- cherek et al found that males with a history of criminal behaviour showed a decrease in aggression and impulsiveness after taking an antidepressant compared to those who took a placebo.
therefore making neuroscience ethical

Question 3

counter argument 1 ?

Answer 3

1 = there are problem asscociated with using neuroscience to treat and understand criminals
- Farah suggests if criminal justice systems use neuroscience to alter behaviour of prisoners they are denied individual freedom and their freewill which is clearly unethical.
- raine et als Research raises ethical issues and social implications because is could result in a person being removed from society or given treatment purely based on brain structure
- Bennett et al highlights that Brian scans can show false positives and not always reliable

Question 4

point 2 ?

Answer 4

2 = neuroscience can be used to treat abnormal behaviour to improve mental health through therapies
- neuroscience has helped develop effective treatments for disorders such as depression, OCD and Parkinson’s disease. drugs like SSRI’s have been produced as a result of neuroscience research that’s how’d how depressed patients have lower levels of serotonin.
- deep brain stimulation is being used to treat similar disorders as neuroscience has increased the understanding of Brin localisation. advancing technology and surgical techniques gave led to DBS becoming highly successful

Question 5

counter argument 2 ?

Answer 5

2 = theres risks associated with treating abnormal behaviour and mental health
- treatments developed as a result of neuroscience can cause psychological harm due to side effects such as memory and speech impairment, aggression and increased risk of suicide. DBS can cause other complications including the electrodes becoming dislodged which could cause bleeding in the brain
- Ferguson et al looked at a range of studies involving antidepressants and concluded people were twice as likely to commit suicide compared to those given a placebo, these findings show that the side effects may sometimes be worse than the original disorder

Question 6

point 3?

Answer 6

3 = using neuroscience we can enhance neurological function
- neuroscience can be used to improve abilities of individuals such as performance on complex academic tasks
- TDCS involves passing a smell electrical current across specific parts of the brain through electrodes on the scalp to enhance performance.

Question 7

counter argument 3 ?

Answer 7

3 = there are issues associated with using neuroscience to enhance neurological function
- there are ethical issues with TDCS as there’s no licensing rules for practitioners meaning that under qualified individuals could administer treatment which could lead to serious ethical consequences such as high risk of physical harm

Question 8

social implication?

Answer 8

society would be made a safer place of criminals could be treated based on the findings from neuroscience this is a positive outcome implying that neuroscience is ethical.

Question 9

economic implications?

Answer 9

• Thomas and morris estimate that salt depression cots the uk economy $9.1 billion pounds in 2000. therefore replacing drug treatment with other treatments could save uk economy billions of pounds