The Neuroscience of the Future

Neural prosthetics, brain-computer interfaces (BCI), “closed-loop” deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices, and a world without human brain disorders. The first three of these are already here... is the last one possible?In the utopian world of The Hedonistic Imperative, an ambitious, admirable (and unlikely) 1995 manifesto by philosopher David Pearce, the goal is to “eradicate suffering in all sentient life” through paradise engineering —  which involves sophisticated applications of nanotechnology, genetic engineering, and psychopharmacology. And going beyond the eradication of suffering, “Life-long happiness of an intensity now physiologically unimaginable can become the heritable norm of mental health.” 1 Lest you think such speculation is limited to those wacky transhumanists, respected neuroscientists Kent Berridge and Morten Kringelbach have written seven reviews on the neuroscience of happiness and pleasure and well-being. In contrast to the vegan and animal rights supporter Pearce, however, Berridge & Kringelbach (e.g., 2012) see animal research as the key to unlocking the brain mechanisms of human pleasures.Sure, we have BRAIN 2025 and the DARPA deep brain stimulation awards. But we're getting ahead ourselves here, aren't we? Using neuroscience to alleviate human suffering takes precedence over the attainment of  “a sublime and all-pervasive happiness” in wealthy Western post-industrial societies (doesn't it)? Doesn't it??“Neurofutu...
Source: The Neurocritic - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Source Type: blogs