Ethical Salience of Effort and Directness in Perceptions of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Deep Brain Stimulation
Open Access
Author:
Conner, Coltrane
Area of Honors:
Engineering Science
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Laura Y. Cabrera, Thesis Supervisor Charles E Bakis, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Ethics Deep Brain Stimulation Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Neuroethics Effort Directness
Abstract:
The body of literature on electromagnetic brain interventions (EBIs) is large and growing; however, there remain several under-explored areas of ethical concern. In this thesis, the ethical salience of two such areas, personal effort and directness, are interrogated. By comparing transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and deep brain stimulation (DBS) to non-electromagnetic brain interventions as well as electromagnetic and non-electromagnetic bodily (non-brain) interventions, unique ethical considerations of EBIs are examined. This comparison was accomplished via the administration of an online survey. Key findings include a preference for non-electromagnetic treatments over electromagnetic treatments, the existence of a threshold up to which more personal effort is viewed as ethically positive but after which more personal effort is viewed as ethically negative, and the lack of a threshold after which more direct treatment is viewed as ethically negative.
