You are here

afeltrin's blog

fMRI-Based Lie Detection

Submitted by afeltrin on Thu, 03/28/2019 - 08:35

I lean more towards disagreeing with the notion that fMRI-based lie detection should be admissible in court cases. Perhaps in certain cases today, fMRI may prove useful in court cases. For instance, at the end of the show, when we were introduced to a mobile MRI machine used to analyze brain activity patterns of psychopaths, that could prove extremely useful in regards to determining if reintegration into society is even possible. Yet, even then, fMRI is not yet a completely accurate tool to be used in court. There comes the very real possibility of sending innocent people to jail because jurors will view this technology as completely objective; but, that is not the case. It is a very subjective form of technology, that relies on human interpretation. But, who knows? In the future, this form of lie detection could be further developed into an extremely legitimate and accurate method of determining lies and truth, and even remorse. So, for now, I don't completely agree with this statement, but my views on it could very well change years from now.

Genie and the Debate Regarding the Role of Language in Thought

Submitted by afeltrin on Wed, 03/27/2019 - 18:45

The case of Genie informs the issue of language contributing to thought because if you are unable to learn true language during these critical periods, then you will be unable to form thoughts. Looking at Genie, she was able to form many words, yet was unable to learn grammar or any syntax, which are essential for stringing together sentences. If you are unable to string together sentences, then you can’t really form any coherent thoughts. She missed the dire critical period of brain stimulation originating from being spoken to and engaged, so her brain will never be normally developed at this point and onward in her life.

Ethics of Gene Editing

Submitted by afeltrin on Wed, 03/27/2019 - 16:15

Ethical considerations primarily focus on the effects on future generations. Relating to gene editing concerning athletes, a current controversy regards whether we should be allowed to use these methods to enhance our own abilities. The use of genome editing in somatic cells raises some concerns due to the array of unpredictable outcomes that accompany gene editing (Krishan et al. 2015). Many are in favor of genome editing when it concerns the elimination of certain diseases. Yet, many are against the idea of altering the DNA of embryos, citing it as crossing an ethical line. This is due to the possibility of newly created diseases developing due to DNA insertion from CRISPR-Cas9 in locations other than the target site (Cyranoski 2015).

Juveniles in the Criminal Justice System

Submitted by afeltrin on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 14:01

I believe that a suspect/defendant should be regarded as a juvenile based on their 'brain age,’ as opposed to their typical age. As shown in the mock trial of Jimmy, though he had just turned 18, his brain has not fully developed. The human brain does not completely develop until well into a person's late 20s. Using solely age is not a great indicator when concerning maturity or levels of impulsivity. Adolescents with learning disabilities or cognitive disabilities are especially prone to increased impulsivity. The pre-frontal cortex is one of the final parts of the brain to develop, and it is the control region for impulsive behavior and decision making. Each person develops differently in regards to time, so how can the term 'juvenile' ethically encompass only a specific age range, and not take into account brain development?

Human Behavior and Biology

Submitted by afeltrin on Tue, 03/26/2019 - 13:06

I believe a lot of our human behavior is rooted in our biology. For example, look at pregnancy and birth in women and apes. Both carry the babies for a long gestational period, thereby creating an indescribable bond with the offspring. The nurturing behaviors displayed after birth are common in both species. I believe that has to do with our biology. I guess there is a technical exception to this, when you regard surrogates. I assume they also feel some form of nurturing behavior after the baby is born, but they understand and know that the baby is not really theirs to rear.

The Effect of Climate Change on Coral Reefs PP

Submitted by afeltrin on Wed, 03/20/2019 - 18:24

This article discusses the evident problem concerning the effects of climate change on coral reefs. The gradual warming of our climate results in coral bleaching, which proves fatal for coral reefs. Interestingly seen in Figure 2, there’s a drop in temperature from June to September, and then the temperature steadily rises from October to May. This oscillation in temperature change is due to how well-mixed the water column is. In the colder months, the water column is mixed more thoroughly than when compared to the warmer months. After recording temperature measurements and observing occurred bleaching, it was determined that the hopeful fate of the coral reefs depends on climate change and how it is affecting water conditions. This article succeeds in displaying the dire effects that accompany climate change, and how we, as a society, need to come up with a solution as to sustain our ecosystem. Climate change affects numerous animals and organisms—from the polar bears to the coral reefs. Without immediate intervention, future generations may never be able to actually see coral reefs in their natural habitats.

The Effect of Climate Change on Coral Reefs

Submitted by afeltrin on Wed, 03/20/2019 - 16:38

This article discusses the evident problem concerning the effects of climate change on coral reefs. The gradual warming of our climate results in coral bleaching, which proves fatal for coral reefs. Interestingly seen, there’s a drop in temperature from June to September, and then the temperature steadily rises from October to May. This oscillation in temperature change is due to how well-mixed the water column is. In the colder months, the water column is mixed more thoroughly than when compared to the warmer months. After recording temperature measurements and observing occurred bleaching it was determined that the hopeful fate of the coral reefs depends on climate change and how it is affecting water conditions. This article succeeds in displaying the dire effects that accompany climate change, and how we, as a society, need to come up with a solution as to sustain our ecosystem. Climate change affects numerous animals and organisms—from the polar bears to the coral reefs. Without immediate intervention, future generations may never be able to actually see coral reefs in their natural habitats.

False Confession Dilemma

Submitted by afeltrin on Wed, 03/20/2019 - 14:01

Solutions proposed to limit the amount of false confessions given are increased legal restrictions. Torture tactics are currently restricted in the United States due to the ethics and morality surrounding this form of interrogation. There has been little research found that supports it being an effective measure. There is great evidence that proves it produces verifiable false confessions. Next comes the question of whether interrogators should be allowed to lie. Interrogators currently utilize evidence ploys, which are made up evidence to garner a confession from the suspect. The police are currently legally allowed to lie during the interrogations. More legal restrictions proposed center around video recordings of the interrogations. A major downside with the recordings is that they can be manipulated when shown in a trial due to only a portion being shown. Also, the camera angle can be manipulated to be focused on solely the face of the suspect, which leads to the confession being more convicting.

Sea Urchin Lab Abstract

Submitted by afeltrin on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 12:02

Increasing amounts of pollutants entering the ocean are actively endangering the ecosystem and our human population. The purpose of this experiment is to observe the effects of a common pollutant, diesel, on the larval fertilization success rate and development of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, sea urchins. Using two conditions and a control of varying proportions of diesel to seawater, we released eggs and sperms into each trial jar and allowed time for fertilization to occur. After two minutes, we gathered samples from each trial to view under compound and dissecting microscopes for fertilization envelopes. In intervals of ten minutes, we gathered samples from each trial to observe under the microscopes for lysed eggs and cleavage formation. The results showed a high number of lysed eggs among both condition groups. There were no lysed eggs found in the control group. We concluded that the presence of lysed eggs in the diesel groups was due to the diesel negatively affecting the gametes. The lack of cleavage in the diesel groups was attributed to abnormal fertilization and subsequent abnormal cellular development.

The Case of Genie Relating to Developmental Psychology

Submitted by afeltrin on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 10:19

After enduring extreme neglect for thirteen years, Genie had never been taught how to talk. Once rescued from the abuse, scientists began to study her while teaching her. She easily was able to learn lexicon, yet failed to successfully learn grammar. The case of Genie informs the nature versus nurture debate because the extreme neglect she endured (as what happens in other abused children’s brains studied) led to her brain not developing properly. The cortex for language and speech was not stimulated in Genie’s brain due to the neglect and lack of stimulation. Because of this, it became less functional, leading to a physical change in that part of the brain. Had she been nurtured, she would almost definitely have developed language normally. This has nothing to do with her nature, as the scientists in the clip refute the idea of her being mentally incapacitated. This solely is concerned with nurture. 

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - afeltrin's blog