Question

Imagine that we could use brain simulator implants to achieve control over patients experiencing emotional difficulties. For example, we could treat depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, etc. without needing medication or counseling. What about the idea of implanting electrodes in the pleasure centers of newly born infants? If these electrodes could be used to soothe a crying baby, treat a mental disorder or to treat drug addictions in teenagers and adults, would there be any disadvantages? If so, what may they be? Would the disadvantage outweigh the advantages? Would you be willing to volunteer your own child or yourself for implantation

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) When a smoker tries to quit, they may usually purchase nicotine chewing gum. The idea is to gradually replace a cigarette with a chewing gum. Even if a smoker is successful in quitting, they generally tend to get addicted to the chewing gum or require stronger nicotine content in their gum.

This is a conditioning example of negative reinforcement. This is when certain behaviour is curbed by replacing it with a new behaviour.

Similarly, if one’s pleasure areas of the brain would be stimulated without actually earning it the right and normal way of working to build a happy situation, it may lead to addictions. Perhaps adults are likely to get addicted to the replacement of what gives them pleasure. They might quit drugs but get addicted to shock therapy. Furthermore, if a baby were to be given shock therapy, it might affect their personalities in several unknown ways. For instance, the baby might grow up to handle displeasure very poorly. Also, the baby might grow up to seek pleasure through addictions.

Changing the operation of one’s brains through such therapy might suitable prescription for a short while and for the right candidate, however, it would be unnatural to inhibit such methods as a constant cure. In this case, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.