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.
No comments:
Post a Comment