The Brain and the Interventions of Bioethics
Neuroscience of psychiatry, neurology, and neurosurgery are sciences working together as an opportunity to discover what are the functions and workings of the brain. As a matter of fact, about 400 million people globally are affected by neurological disorders (Glannon). These disorders are predominant: schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. From 1 to 5 percent of the populations all over the country surveyed have serious mental illness; which are left untreated. In addition, Brain-imaging provides a good alternative to deter this serious problems and start treating them.
“The brain remains as the most complex and least understood organ in the human body” (Glannon). The understanding of the brain composes a dynamic, sensitive, and scientific intervention than any other part of the anatomy and physiological part of the body.
The brain and The Mind
The experience of abnormal beliefs, emotions, and volitions may conduct and represent a great factor affecting and a progress antecedent of some types of dementia and mental illnesses; having biological causes. Representing disorders of the mind arising from dysfunction in the brain. The mind has a reflective state of interaction of the organism itself and the surrounding environments, external elements, and psychological pressures.
Ethical Issues in Neuroscience
Brain examination through the use of brain scan imaging may be a resourceful tool in finding what abnormalities are associated to a disease and also, predict some future symptoms and several outcomes. Furthermore, they help in revealing important information about a person. For example, to predict whether individuals are at a high risk of schizophrenia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s disease, and many other neuropsychiatric diseases that develop in early stages with the signs of structural and functional brain abnormalities. This represents a reaction of the body, and can affect patients. Also, represents either positive or negative psychological responses on patients and subjects on how they may interpret the results and provide a neurological response to the brain. (Mental, emotional, or even moral stresses are being examined).
In addition, mental states depend most of the time on the information obtained from the outside. Psychological responses, which are being represented by how the brain interacts with the natural and social environment.
Does neurological function in human beings decease once they stop reasoning as persons, or human organisms?
Reference
Glannon, Walter. Bioethics and The Brain. Oxford University Press: New York, 2007.
Esther Juárez 