Portfolio 5

Brain mapping allows scientist to understand the complexities surrounding our brains. Brain mapping is the key to finding a cure for many of our mental illnesses. Brain imaging on patients suffering from mental illness would allow scientist to understand the roots causes of their illness. For example, brain imaging has shown that schizophrenic patients lose matter in the temporal and prefrontal cortex over time. This finding may lead to scientist in working towards an effective cure to prevent specific brain matter from faltering. In addition, brain mapping also lead to the possibility of “mind reading”, which is particularly helpful to law enforcement agencies. The ability to read the mind of a potential perpetrator allows law enforcers to take pre-emptive measures to deter acts of crime. The potential of brain mapping is tremendous as it could lead to a safe and secured society, where crime is unheard of. Imagine a suspect in the future gets caught immediately because his brain shows a potential law breaker. However, brain mapping technology may be opened to abuse and it raises several ethical questions. If I was a researcher in brain mapping, I would recommend to the authorities to introduce legislation that restricts access to this technology. In addition, I would also recommend the setting up of a regulatory body to ensure that the technology is applied to specific causes that requires special attention, such as mental illnesses like depression. I would also recommend to the authorities that nations who buy over the rights to this technology, sign into an agreement that holds them responsible if there is unethical abuse of brain mapping.