10) Noninvasive Brain Stimulation: Neuroscience and Neuroethics (Hamilton)

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) are an interesting new frontier in ethical research and cognitive enhancement. Evidence suggests that these techniques might be used to enhance cognitive functions like memory or creativity, and this introduces interesting ethical issues. Prof. Roy Hamilton will discuss how noninvasive brain stimulation like TMS and TDCS have been used for experimentation, as well as to study the neural basis of certain ethical constructs (e.g. deception & justice). He will then describe the safety of TMS and TDCS, reviewing the known immediate neurological risks of the two techniques.

Readings:

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Roy H. Hamilton, M.D., M.S.
Dr. Hamilton is Assistant Professor of Neurology at Penn. His research interests include the characteristics and limits of functional plasticity in the adult human brain. Dr. Hamilton's studies use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and direct current stimulation (tDCS) to examine and manipulate the functional anatomy and connectivity of the brain in both healthy and injured states.