Intervening in the Brain: Changing Psyche and SocietyThe Europäische Akademie is concerned with the study of the consequences of scientific and technological advance both for the individual and for society at large as well as for the natural environment. One important pillar of its work is to assess the consequences of advances in medical research and technology. In recent years, neuroscience has been a particularly prolific discipline stimulating many innovative treatment approaches in medicine. However, when it comes to the brain, new techniques of intervention do not always meet with a positive public response, in spite of promising therapeutic b- efits. The reason for this caution clearly is the brain’s special importance as “organ of the mind”. As such it is widely held to be the origin of mankind’s unique position among living beings. Likewise, on the level of the individual human being, the brain is considered the material substrate of those traits that in combination render each person unique. In view of this preeminent significance of the brain, it is understandable that, in general, interventions into the brain are considered a delicate issue and that new techniques of intervention are scrutinised with particular care. However, in doing so it is important not to go to the opposite extreme and shy away from promising new therapeutic approaches for debilitating disorders of the brain. With respect to the new techniques of brain intervention a broad int- disciplinary perspective is required to discern irrational fear from justified concern. |
Contents
1 | |
Central Neural Prostheses 117 | 116 |
Electrical Brain Stimulation for Psychiatric Disorders | 161 |
Person Personal Identity and Personality | 189 |
4 | 218 |
and Limits 289 | 288 |
Conclusions and Recommendations | 383 |
Zusammenfassung | 419 |
List of Abbreviations | 475 |
References | 491 |
Other editions - View all
Intervening in the Brain: Changing Psyche and Society Reinhard Merkel,G. Boer,J. Fegert,T. Galert,D. Hartmann,B. Nuttin,S. Rosahl No preview available - 2010 |
Intervening in the Brain: Changing Psyche and Society Reinhard Merkel,G. Boer,J. Fegert,T. Galert,D. Hartmann,B. Nuttin,S. Rosahl No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
abilities able acceptable according actions activity adolescents applied autonomy basic behaviour body brain capacities cells certainly child clinical cognitive common concept concern consent consequences considered constitutive continuity course criteria decision depression discussion disease disorders drugs eine electrical enhancement et al ethical example experience fact functions future gene harm human identity implants important improve individual intervention involved issues justice kind least limits means medicine memory ment mental moral natural neural neurons normal normative objects one’s parents particular patients performance person personal identity physical possible potential practice present principle problems procedure psychiatric question reason regard remain respect responsibility risk sense side effects social society specific stages stimulation story surgery techniques term therapy tion tissue treat treatment trials
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