Brain mapping techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG) and positron emission tomography (PET) are used to map the brain activation patterns. The techniques are constantly evolving and researchers may one day find brain activity that correlates with various behavior patterns. On the positive side, brain mapping is helping surgeons locate and remove tumors that once were considered inoperable, saving the lives of many patients. On the other side, several ethical issues are predicted to arise when the technology is fully developed and made available to the masses.
In the future, brain mapping results might be used to convict a criminal in court of law. Before it can happen, some important issues need to be overcome to minimize potential unethical abuses of the technology in court. Currently, brain mapping is often applied in different situations and under different testing conditions, giving rise to uncertainties in the results. Besides, the test results are often read by unqualified personnel. To overcome the problems, there should be accepted standards within the neurology community to establish what constitutes a "normal" or "abnormal" result. Most importantly, politicians should not be allowed to set the standards.
Recently, brain mapping studies are conducted on children, who have normally developing brains and those with neurodevelopmental disorders to create the first atlas of the healthy, growing mind and help researchers discover the basis for abnormalities. However, in the future, some parents may misuse brain mapping techniques to match their children’s brain scans to those of famous authors, musicians or scientists. Rules need to be established in which, brain mapping can only be used on children for the purpose of studying the basis for abnormalities. It should not be used by parents to match their children’s qualities.
In the future, brain mapping results might be used to convict a criminal in court of law. Before it can happen, some important issues need to be overcome to minimize potential unethical abuses of the technology in court. Currently, brain mapping is often applied in different situations and under different testing conditions, giving rise to uncertainties in the results. Besides, the test results are often read by unqualified personnel. To overcome the problems, there should be accepted standards within the neurology community to establish what constitutes a "normal" or "abnormal" result. Most importantly, politicians should not be allowed to set the standards.
Recently, brain mapping studies are conducted on children, who have normally developing brains and those with neurodevelopmental disorders to create the first atlas of the healthy, growing mind and help researchers discover the basis for abnormalities. However, in the future, some parents may misuse brain mapping techniques to match their children’s brain scans to those of famous authors, musicians or scientists. Rules need to be established in which, brain mapping can only be used on children for the purpose of studying the basis for abnormalities. It should not be used by parents to match their children’s qualities.
1 comment:
I also agreed that law should be implemented before the use of these technology. This could minimise some unethical use of the technology.
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