Friday, October 11, 2013

Make Way for Neuroscience


Neuroscience is a part of the up and coming multitude of sciences that contain major advancements and information to help animals and humans alike flourish. There is a wealth of knowledge that is in our very near future. We need to take the initiative to inform ourselves and assess the growing field of Neuroscience. We need to evaluate how to use these developing technologies and choose where and how they fit into our world. 

Dr. Ruben Gur, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology and Director of the Brain Behavior Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania, introduced the idea of neuroscience and its application in the courtroom. He spoke to us about his work on The Impact of Neuroscience on Criminal Law Cases across Two Decades and its importance. He announced that we are in a process in which legal doctrines need to be adjusted for science. One issue in particular lies with the lack of knowledge in the case of legal situations, and therefore, an inability to judge neuroscience-oriented documentation. Dr. Gur informed us of the hesitancy that the legal system has on judging a person based off their brain and chemical imbalances and abnormalities. He explains that while some people try to demolish the use of Neuroscience in law, believing “brains don’t kill people, people kill people,” that behavior is the product of the brain. “Our brains determine who we are and what we do,” says Gur. Direct stimulation in specific regions of the brain during surgery can literally move a body part. Interestingly, the person receiving these stimulations actually thinks that they controlled the movement. This is a simple, clear, and powerful example of the power your brain has over your body.

Dr. Deborah Denno, Professor of Law at Fordham Law School, opened her speech beautifully by stating misconceptions from the past on Neuroscience, lead to unnecessary constraints on how to deal with the matter today.” She claims that this science is predicted to be as precise as DNA testing; yet no one seems to even be attempting to prepare for this. An important point that Dr. Denno made several times, is that people don’t have a knowledge base in Neuroscience and that not knowing leads to fear and uncertainty of the subject.  People are intimidated by Neuroscience being involved in law and are much more likely to accept questionable evidence. This evidence includes eyewitness testimonies that are often used rather than hard evidence, such as a brain scan.  While there are many ways that Neuroscience can contribute to evidence, the majority of brain scans appearing in court aren’t applied until it becomes a capital case.

Journalist and Author, Emily Anthes, writes about the fears and anxieties that people have regarding up and coming science and technology. In Anthes book, Frankenstein’s Cat, she examines the views of Americans, looks at research and studies, as well as the ethics and principles surrounding them. She introduces us to many new concepts such as human controlled bugs that can be navigated by a remote and genes in rodents that can be turned on and off that elicit desired behaviors. She explains how electrical signaling to the somatorsensory cortex of a rat’s brain has let us control the movement of their bodies. She writes about the act of inserting Opsin into rodents’ brains and how light, in varying wavelengths, can control their aggression and make them fall asleep and wake up on command. These experiments revealed amazing results and showed us how we can apply them to humans. She expresses scientists’ hopes to one day be able to use these techniques to treat neurological disorders. This may sound far fetched to many, but with scientists’ abilities to selectively choose the activation of specific neurons, it is entirely possible. There has even been research that has treated the spinal cords in paralyzed rats. Anthes takes us into the progressive, not so far, future where we could apply this to people and treat paralysis. Anthes takes the fear many have towards science, and makes us realize the astonishing advancements that we have to look forward to.

There is no point in avoiding the incredible technology that we can use to better the wellbeing and the overall happiness of life in animals and people. Along with these advances, denying them in a court of law because of the unfamiliarity that one may have, is not just. Science lover or not, people should be informed of the growth and improvements that science has to offer. There is an abundance of knowledge contained in Anthes book that many people still believe to be science fiction. While it is true that science can be intimidating to many due to the enormous advances and seeing implausible content, it can be used for the betterment of life. Anthes strongly believes that people should educate themselves and embrace technology, not run from it.


References:
 Anthes, Emily. Frankenstein's Cat: Cuddling Up to Biotech's Brave New Beasts. New York: Scientific 
                       American / Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2013. Print.

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