9.) Discuss ethical considerations related to research studies at the BLOA
This one was mainly in the purple book, so I'll try to frame it the best I can.
There are two categories to address regarding the ethics of the BLOA, as stated by Farah (2008):
For each of these, there are a few specific issues that can be touched upon:
- Can these scans be used as evidence in a court?
- Can large businesses use technology like the fMRI to gauge customer brain activity in reaction to different products?
- If drugs work to improve those with a mental disability, are healthy people allowed to take them to boost their own cognitive abilities? (Brave New World and Soma? )
2. How to use the information -
- How should information about the brain be used to change society? (Think Brave New World: should some things never be done? Sorry, making too many literary connections to psychology)
- To what extent should people be responsible for their behavior? (Think of the article "My Genes Made Me Do It")
- Information regarding the biological basis of culture could be manipulated and used for negative discrimination
- How does biological findings interfere in religious belief?
- How does biological findings affect the definition of life and death (ex. those who are "brain-dead" but still with body functioning)?
*Along with this hodge-podge of information, be SURE to touch on the rights of animals and humans:
- Confidentiality
- Protection from psychological harm ( ALL OF THESE WERE PART OF THE IA!!!!)
There are two categories to address regarding the ethics of the BLOA, as stated by Farah (2008):
- What we can do regarding gaining knowledge in the BLOA
- How we use the knowledge we have already and will soon gain in the BLOA
For each of these, there are a few specific issues that can be touched upon:
- What to do -
- Can these scans be used as evidence in a court?
- Can large businesses use technology like the fMRI to gauge customer brain activity in reaction to different products?
- If drugs work to improve those with a mental disability, are healthy people allowed to take them to boost their own cognitive abilities? (Brave New World and Soma? )
2. How to use the information -
- How should information about the brain be used to change society? (Think Brave New World: should some things never be done? Sorry, making too many literary connections to psychology)
- To what extent should people be responsible for their behavior? (Think of the article "My Genes Made Me Do It")
- Information regarding the biological basis of culture could be manipulated and used for negative discrimination
- How does biological findings interfere in religious belief?
- How does biological findings affect the definition of life and death (ex. those who are "brain-dead" but still with body functioning)?
*Along with this hodge-podge of information, be SURE to touch on the rights of animals and humans:
- Animals are used for techniques involving lesioning (scarring of the brain) and ablation (removing portions of the brain) which are invasive techniques that can't be used on humans
- Animals with permanent damage or negative change done during an experiment are always euthanized
- The DSM-IV states precautions for the avoidance of undue stress or negative effects for an individual in an experiment
- Confidentiality
- Protection from psychological harm ( ALL OF THESE WERE PART OF THE IA!!!!)
- Great example of issue with last element from above - Stanford Prison Experiment done by Zimbardo in 1971