Neurochemical Variability

In Dr. Vukov’s research on Neurochemical Variability, Vukov conducts a variety of several experiments to show how changes in the flux of neuromodulators could impact an individual’s moral perceptions. An increase of serotonin could positively impact an individua while a depletion of serotonin could cause an individual to act unethically in comparison to how they normally would. Upon conducting the various experiments, Vukov and his team approached this study from the viewpoint of philosophy-based biology. They were able to conclusively conclude that moral judgements are not fixed, they are dependent on the neuromodulator levels and more factors including stress levels. Moral judgements are also not fixed in the sense of history, our beliefs are based off of ideas that we cannot control, we are influenced by our parents and our culture.

In The New York Times news article, Is Morality Hard-Wired Into Our Brains, it is reported that a researcher’s findings support that our moral learnings are dictated by early brain developments, starting as far back as the separation between cold-blooded creatures and warm blooded creatures. Through analyzing various neurochemicals and how they affect our social interactions, the overall hypothesis suggests that the development of our deciphers a moral guideline. The experiences of our primitive ancestors molded our brain’s today, thus creating a framework for the moral guideline. The idea that the decisions our ancestors made heavily impact our moral judgements today was explained more by alluding to the idea that altruism originated from sharing food.

As both studies focus on how different systems of our brain work together to create our moral judgements as well as historical evidence, it brings me to the question of criminal justice. In Dr. Vukov’s sense, if an individual has a deficient level of various neuromodulators, could one argue that their decision was based off of their neurochemical imbalance and plead an insanity case. In The New York Times article, could one argue that the development/structure from their upbringing altered their decision? In regard to both, could the structure of the brain hinder/increase the production of neuromodulators?

Works Cited:

Crockett, Molly J. “Neurochemical Modulation of Moral Judgement.” Moral Brains, 2016, pp. 237–245., doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199357666.003.0011.

Goldhill, Olivia. “Is Morality Hard-Wired Into Our Brains?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 28 June 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/06/28/books/review/conscience-patricia-churchland.html?searchResultPosition=10.