Neuroscience

• Neuroscience is any treatment/research study which examines the structure and function of the brain.
• Understanding criminal behaviour- Raine et al shows a deterministic view of criminal behaviour. Martha Farah (2004) argues courts signal the denial of free will to have a personality. A court may offer the choice of prison or a course of psychosurgery.
• Understanding criminal behaviour- neuroscience has helped us understand causes of criminal behaviour. Raine et al (1997) used brain-scanning of murderers who pled NGRI. It showed that understanding the biological causes of behaviour can help with giving criminals treatment to help them.
• Enhance neurological function- neuroscience can improve the abilities of people in academic tasks. Transcranial direct current stimulation involves passing a small electric current across the brain. This means there are possible future benefits to education.
• Enhance neurological function- ethical issues to TDCS. There is no training or licensing rules for practitioners, this can lead poorly qualified people administering ineffective treatment or causing damage.
• Improve marketing techniques- neuromarketing has access to our personal information. Wilson et al (2008) found an increase in neuromarketing research will allow advertisers to deliver individualised messages. It takes away an element of free will.
• Improve marketing techniques- neuromarketing is a benefit to marketing research. Neuromarketers use FMRI scans to help determine the most effective marketing campaigns, this brings economic benefits to society by boosting profits.
• Conclusion- neuroscience can offer a better understanding of the brain and lead to developments in the knowledge of both normal and abnormal behaviour. It offers a 'stigma-free' explanations of behaviour. However, the knowledge it produces when published becomes accessible to all.