Imagining the Work of the Brain: Neuroethics 2005
The VII Annual Swedish Symposium on Biomedicine, Ethics and Society was held on May 13-14 2005 in Sandhamn.
Neuroimaging of Complex Behaviour
Thomas Dierks, MD, Professor, Dept. of Psychiatric Neurophysiology, University Hospital for Clinical Psychiatry. Waldau, CH-3000 Bern 60 , Switzerland
Abstract of presentation
Philosophers and researchers have since the antique been on the quest for a better understanding of the physiological basis of normal and pathological complex behavior in humans. However, only since about 70 years tools have been available which allows a more or less non-invasive view into the brain and its functional properties. Those techniques using among others electromagnetic, metabolic, neurochemical and haemodynamic properties associated with brain function are all characterized by their own advantages and disadvantages. Beside the different invasiveness of the techniques they represent different epiphenomena of brain functions linked to e.g. complex behavior; they are demonstrating typical properties regarding spatial and temporal resolution. This inherent properties of the different techniques has an impact on the way results gained by them can be interpreted and which conclusions can be drawn. These techniques will be presented and discussed with regard to their benefits and drawbacks when investigating the neurophysiology of complex behavior.
