Week 2 Flashcards
You can see in somebody’s brain whether they are depressed? True or false
False
What diseases are there neuromarkers for
Epilepsy, Parkinsons, MS
These disorders moved from psychology to neurology
5E cognition
Phenomenological psychology
What if mental disorders are physical disorders but we have the wrong understanding of the body
4E cognition
-Embodied- Body not just as a physical thing but the anchor of our perception on the world and a means for interacting
-Embedded: In an environment
-Enacted: In interaction with the environment
-Extended: Tools
Valenstein and mental disorders
Wrote the book ‘Blaming the Brain’- The Truth about Drugs and Mental health
“The statement that mental disorders are physical diseases implies a lot more than can be justified”
Mind and body
Previously the word soul was used instead of mind
In ancient Greece there was understandings of the soul that were physical- Imagined soul was part of body
Mind and body are torn apart with words
Consequences of thinking of something as a brain problem
Become more passive because they think medication will do the work
DBS is a common treatment for
Parkinsons
Cortical equipotentiality
The whole brain has the potential to fulfil the same tasks
-Opposite of phrenology
Localization models
After cortical equipotentiality
Moved towards localization views using brain imaging
But moved back again as there are not as many specific brain systems
Delgado’s approach of introducing electrodes
Based on the assumption that psychological functioning is realised in localized brain areas
Delgado and ‘the pleasure centre’
Found in brains of rodents, cats and patients
Supported the idea of localized brain function
Free will and morality
If we don’t have free will, we cannot be held responsible for our actions
If we are not responsible for our actions, then we cannot be guilty for our actions
If we cannot be guilty for our actions, then penal law has to be revised
Arguments against free will
-We are not free because our brains are determined (Old philosophical problem of whether determination is compatible with free will)
-We are not free because our decisions are determined by unconscious brain processes (psychological problem of conscious will)
Original Libet experiments
- Subjects attached to EEG’s
-Hand movements measured in relation to brain signals (Hand movement terminates trial)
-EEG measures premotor area of frontal cortex (measures readiness potential)
-Subjects reported not always moving when feeling the “urge” - When people move it is initiated unconsciously- But you can consciously reject this unconscious urge (Conscious veto) therefore the original RP cannot be the cause of the movement
-Unconscious urge is necessary to move but there is another process which is also required to carry out the movement
-This experiment has been shown as an argument against free will
What did Libet’s experiment show about voluntary actions
They could be initiated unconsciously
How long before a movement can someone ‘veto’ it
Up to 200ms
Suggestions for improvement in science communication
-Publication of negative results
-Placing less weight on impact factor
-Insulating researchers from industry and commercialization pressures
-Independent science media organizations
-Educating science graduate students on communication
-Using the full breadth of media
First to use electrodes in the brain to study behaviour
Walter Hess
-In the hypothalamus and other structures in cats
Frederick Gibbs
Noticed cats purring when a small current was passed through electrodes in the ‘pleasure centre’ of the hypothalamus
Olds and Milner
Verified existence of pleasure centre with rodents
-Septal area associated with pleasure and reward- Rich in dopaminergic and glutaminergic activity (Associated with addiction)
Psychosurgery
Popular in the mid 1950s
Lost popularity soon due to increasing evidence of adverse results
Electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB)
Seen as best alternative for psychosurgery
Delgado championed this
Delgado and ESB originally
Originally saw the application of ESB as useful for controlling satiety and caloric intake
-Used monkeys to show effectiveness
Delgado and ESB later in life
Collabed with others to see whether ESB techniques could diminish frequency and severity of psychosis symptoms and encourage prosocial behaviour in patients prone to violence/ aggression
Delgado’s brave bulls
-21 electrode points placed into the brain of 2 bulls
-3 regions stimulated:
Rostral thalamus- Didnt modify aggressive behaviour
Internal capsule (Within the striatum)- Resulted in stereotypic turning by the animals
Caudate nucleus- Stimulation was reported to cease aggressive behaviour/ Cause a stereotypic contralateral turn- Ambiguous description
-Was not possible with the data available to Delgado to dissociate between the effect of caudate stimulation on aggression from the effects of the same stimulation on basic motor control
-Is possible that stimulation stops aggression
Electrical stimulation of the caudate nucleus
-Had been found to effect movement by the 50’s- domestic cat studies- resulted in head turns and leg extensions
-Low intensity stimulation stopped motor behaviour- Greater intensity resulted in contralateral turning
Stimulating the caudate likely affected motor response but it also affected aggression (Hard to dissociate the 2)
-Likely intentional for Delgado as stimulating an area known to affect motor behaviour increased safety of the bull experiment
4 rights to facilitate the discussion of ethical, legal, and social questions regarding neurotechnology (Neurorights)
The right to..
-Cognitive liberty
-Mental privacy
-Mental integrity
-Psychological continuity
What do stimoreceivers do
Transmission and reception of electrical messages to and from the brain
-Idea to use them in areas like the amygdala to reduce aggression in criminals
Stimulation of caudate nucleus in leader of a social hierarchy of monkeys
Saw complete change of hierarchy itself
Delgado and overcoming…
BS could help people overcome “limitations due to our genes or the environment in which we grew up”
Psychogenesis
We are not born free but subservient to our nature
-Brain stimulation may be a way to alleviate this
Valenstein and Delgados bull
Says the experiment likely affected the bulls motor movement rather than their aggression
Valenstein- 5 limitations of brain stimulation
-Limited precision in placing electrodes
-Inter-individual brain variability
-How individual personality and history shape responses to stimuli
-Situational dependency of responses
-Diachronic variability due to learning
Valenstein and aggression
Thinks the idea that social problems of aggression can be solved with biological solutions is delusional
-Thinks violence is a result of a diseased society, rather than a diseased brain
Cognitive liberty
The right to mental self-determination
-Most fundamental neuroright
-2 aspects:
Access to neurotechnologies
Protection against coercive and unconsented use
Mental privacy
-The personal and sensible nature of brain data
-Right to ones data being kept private
Mental integrity
One cannot manipulate anothers brain as to change their psychological processes
Psychological continuity
-Violated if ones personality/personal identity is changed due to the use of neurotechnology
-Ones perception of their own identity in the course of time
Delgado thought the future of humanity depended on
The possibility to control peoples minds through controlling their brains
Important precursors to present technology
Neurodevices from 50s to 70s
How long after the onset of RP until our urge becomes conscious
350-400ms
Haggard and Eimer (1999)
Looked at RP of lateral premotor areas of the cortex
-Found similar results to Libet (RP onset precedes conscious awareness to urge to act)
Searle and voluntary action
Voluntary action occurs when a conscious self acts on the basis of reason and is capable of initiating actions
-“Act Now” voluntary process is initiated unconsciously- Cannot be initiated by conscious self
-Distinguishes between conscious preplanning/ choice making and “act now” processes
How long does conscious awareness of the urge to act precede the actual movement in the “act now” situation
150-200ms
How long before an action does the human ability to veto act
100-200ms
