Contemporary debate

• What is the debate of the biological approach? 


  The ethics of neuroscience
• Neuroscience is ethical - neuroimaging

  Neuroimaging techniques may enable researchers to distinguish between true & false memory, aiding in lie detection.

  Activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is associated with the active suppression of memory.

  Intentional deception may be correlated to specific neural substrates such as the anterior cingulate cortex.

  Implications - decreases chance of false imprisonment.
• Neuroscience is unethical - neuroimaging

  Threat to privacy.

  Cognitive liberty - fundamental right over your autonomy & brain states.

  In the future could be used for things such as job applications, assessing insurance risks, early detection of mental illnesses, etc. Threatens privacy & shows correlation not causation so someone could be falsely labelled.

  Implications - could impact if someone rejected from a job, expensive.
• Neuroscience is ethical - treatment of mental health 


  Research shows that artificial intelligence can accurately predict whether an antidepressant will work based on a patient‘s brain activity. People being treated for depression usually have to endure months of trial and error testing to find a drug that can help them. This intelligence can eliminate this process.

  Implications - eliminating trial & error process will save money.
• Neuroscience is unethical - treatment of mental health 


  Could cause behaviour to be reduced to brain processes. Consequently, any abnormal brain process or behaviour may be viewed as cause for medicalisation or diagnosis could take place before it is definite the illness will develop.

  Implications - more medication needed -> cost.
• Neuroscience is ethical - enhancing cognitive function 


  Drugs that are able to enhance cognitive function can be used for

  helping with attention, alertness & memory.

  Psychostimulants such as methylphenidate & dextroamphetamine have been found to not only enhance attention in individuals with ADHD but also in healthy people.

  Advancements in molecular biology of memory have pointed out possible methods of development that may lead to treatment for dementia & PTSD.

  Implications - people achieve more & be more productive.
• Neuroscience is unethical - enhancing cognitive function 


  Could cause competition.

  If enhancement becomes widespread, pressure will rise to enhance cognitive function in situations of social competition.

  Could disadvantage those who can’t afford it, widening gap between higher and lower classes.

  Implications - standards will rise, unfair to those who can’t access it.