Neuroscience - ethical or not?

Question 1

What is neuroscience?

Answer 1

The study for how the brain and nervous system affect behaviour.

Question 2

Understanding consciousness

Answer 2

Crick and Koch (1998) - ‘The Claustrum is a thin sheet of neurons found in the centre of the brain and this is the seat of consciousness. Koubessi et al (2014) used an electrode on a 54 year old woman with epilepsy and it was electrically stimulated. She stopped reading and responding and when the stimulation stopped she regained consciousness.

Question 3

Unethical points

Answer 3

The woman didn’t consent to being unconscious - people could do harm with this.

Question 4

Ethical points

Answer 4

Could help someone in a long-term coma. The decision to end their life could be based on whether they remain conscious or not.

Question 5

Treating criminal behaviour

Answer 5

Cherek et al (2002) - twelve male subjects with a history of criminal behaviour - measured aggressive and impulsive responses. 6 - placebo & 6 - paroxetine treatment. Treatment for 21 days produced a significant decrease in impulsive responses + decrease in aggression at the end of the treatment.

Question 6

Unethical points

Answer 6

Ignores social context. Not everyone with criminal genes commit crimes (James Fallon)
Farah (2004) ‘If a court uses neurological interventions, it signals the denial of an individuals freedom.

Question 7

Ethical points

Answer 7

Could decrease the crime rate, therefore more people are safe, therefore less people are in prison, less money being spent on rehabilitating them.

Question 8

Enhancing neurological functioning

Answer 8

Using TDC to enhance academic performance e.g. in exams

Question 9

Unethical points

Answer 9

There is no training on how to administer the shock. Most adult brains are not fully developed until mid twenties so it may stop proper development. TDC is not available to everyone and some people may not be able to afford it therefore the rich will get it and get better grades therefore better jobs, increasing the class divide. It is essentially the same as using drugs in sport therefore arguably should be banned.

Question 10

Ethical points

Answer 10

Might help people pass exams. Might increasing medical and technological advances/discoveries.

Question 11

Improving marketing techniques

Answer 11

While being interviewed, some people may not give true answers. This can be avoided with eye-tracking. For example, ‘The Force’ Volkswagen was created using neuromarketing and the company had highly successful sales.

Question 12

Unethical points

Answer 12

Neuromarketing accesses inner thoughts.
Wilson et al (2008) - ‘This will allow researchers to deliver messages where our free will is potentially manipulated by big brands.’ Small companies will not be able to afford the equipment, therefore bigger brands will be getting bigger and more people might not go to smaller ones. Neuromarketing companies are not obliged to abide by ethical codes of practise.
Nelson (2008) - ‘56% of these firms produced incidental findings’ e.g. researchers may find evidence of a brain tumour but not have to tell the person.

Question 13

Ethical points

Answer 13

Increase sales for some companies