| Brain science has been one of the central topics in | | | | - Foster greater inter-disciplinary knowledge to |
| the scientific world in the last decade. The | | | | improve thinking about norms |
| development of several new technologies has | | | | - Take into consideration that diversity is |
| allowed scientists to reach a superior level in research | | | | “normal” and positive for the development |
| methods. | | | | of society, the arts and science. |
| Such technologies - particularly brain scanning | | | | - Counteract a “social pressure” for medical |
| techniques (PET, fMRI, CT, etc.) - have enabled | | | | treatment. |
| experts to perform procedures which were thought | | | | - Do not treat patients if they do not wish it. |
| to be in the realm of science fiction in a near past. In | | | | - Offer a broad range of treatment options and |
| the verge of an advanced era in the perception and | | | | support, provide alternatives to medical treatment |
| manipulation of the human mind, an ethical discussion | | | | and complementary medicine or combine various |
| was raised in the Old continent. | | | | approaches. |
| Meeting the ‘Meeting of Minds’ | | | | - Put more emphasis on prevention. |
| “Meeting of Minds - European Citizens' | | | | - Reinforce communication between patients and |
| Deliberation on Brain Science, was a unique exercise | | | | specialists in charge. |
| involving the general public in a discussion on | | | | - Reallocate resources in favour of basic research. |
| cutting-edge science. Citizens from nine European | | | | - Give high priority to brain research. |
| countries will suggest what they think should be done | | | | - Ensure that the increased knowledge that brain |
| with our new-found knowledge of the brain. They will | | | | science provides is also applied in other fields such as |
| debate the ethical, social and legal implications with | | | | teaching, learning, thinking, and creativity. |
| international experts. The citizens’ conclusions on | | | | - Do not allow enhancing drugs for people who have |
| the use of new technology, medicines and techniques | | | | to pass exams. |
| will be offered to policy-makers at the European, | | | | - Definitions should be flexible as society moves on. |
| national and transnational level.” ( | | | | Public Information and Communication |
| Breaking through Brain Research | | | | - Promote broadcasting of scientific documentaries |
| The outcome of the meeting of minds was one of | | | | during viewer-friendly hours. |
| the most elaborate displays of democratic | | | | - Start a “Brainpedia” similar to the general |
| decision-making in history. 126 citizens, 9 countries, 12 | | | | Wikipedia encyclopedia in the internet. |
| organisations and another dozens of professionals | | | | - Mobilize medical students and create opportunities |
| from several areas: resulting in over 100 | | | | for them to go public in order to enter a permanent |
| recommendations that are being analysed by | | | | discussion with practitioners, organizations, and |
| stakeholders in the fields of brain research and | | | | citizens. |
| politics. The meeting’s organisation committee | | | | - Keep the medical press independent of |
| recognised several ‘new’ areas in brain | | | | pharmaceutical industries. |
| research which are becoming increasingly relevant in | | | | - Promote the information flow between experts. |
| our daily lives, and designed most recommendations | | | | - Encourage a more interdisciplinary approach. |
| based on probable outcomes from these areas. | | | | - Introduce or improve communicative skills in the |
| Brain Stimulation | | | | education for medical doctors in order to improve the |
| The initiative to solve psychiatric problems derived | | | | doctor-patient relationship and the quality of |
| from common mental health disorders, such as OCD, | | | | information. |
| has provided the background for neuro-surgeons to | | | | - Establish more direct information links between |
| endeavour in “tinkering at people’s | | | | experts and patients. Scientists should be discouraged |
| brains”. Innovative procedures, such as the | | | | to publish immediately every new development in |
| insertion of electrodes that emit mild currents to | | | | research in popular media. |
| communicate with the patient via a wireless system, | | | | Pressure from Economic Interests |
| are part of this area. Issues? The definition of | | | | - Introduce incentives for pharmaceutical companies |
| normality: how are medical treatments going to | | | | to conduct fundamental research. |
| affect different social groups and who should, and | | | | - Initiate foundations that support patients with rare |
| should not, be treated. | | | | diseases. |
| Brain Scanning Technologies | | | | - Foster independent information about drugs that |
| Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) has | | | | are positioned as consumer products. |
| been used to identify patterns of cognitive behaviour | | | | - Keep the ban on advertising for prescription drugs. |
| in the human brain. Scientists have attempted to use | | | | - Require that sources of financing are listed with |
| it for lie detection and even to recognise which areas | | | | every academic contribution. |
| of the brain are being used when a stimuli is provided. | | | | Equal Access to Treatment |
| Scientists have even attempted to scan several | | | | - Make efforts to ensure equal access regardless of |
| different people in order to define a ‘normal’ | | | | age, gender, ethnicity, economic capacity and social |
| brain structure. Issues? Privacy and a patient’s | | | | status. |
| right to refuse treatment are the major concerns | | | | - Make sure that people are well informed about |
| which result from this type of research. | | | | treatments and non-medical alternatives in order to |
| Regulatory Drugs | | | | avoid exclusion from services. |
| Several drugs have been developed to treat patients | | | | - Extend the understanding of necessary treatment |
| with brain disorders, such as compliance and conduct | | | | to prevention and create respective institutions and |
| disorders. The ability to provide a ‘quick fix’ | | | | programs. |
| to particular behaviours has induced research in this | | | | - Incorporate citizens and patients’ organizations |
| area. Issues? Again the definition of normality: there is | | | | in decision making on allocation of resources. |
| a concern on whether some conditions are in fact | | | | - Target mental health care to particular groups |
| disorders that should be treated. With further | | | | (elderly, ethnical groups, socially weak groups…) to |
| development of research, such drugs could be used | | | | increase efficiency. |
| for social control. | | | | Freedom of Choice |
| Cognitive Enhancers | | | | - Create interdisciplinary support teams for patients |
| In the last decade cognitive enhancers have been a | | | | and their families. |
| central topic of discussion in brain research. Drugs | | | | - Improve the geographical distribution of diagnosis |
| which improve memory, alertness and other cognitive | | | | and treatment units for patients and their families. |
| functions have been developed, and drug companies | | | | - Set up a multidisciplinary group to define |
| are prepared to market them to the general public. | | | | “unbearable psychological suffering”. The |
| Issues? There are several concerns about the | | | | established criteria should serve as a foundation for |
| non-regulation of such drugs, which could become a | | | | laws on euthanasia independent of public opinion, one |
| quick fix for ‘mental problems’. This culture | | | | group emphasized. |
| would play a role in decreasing the importance of | | | | - Guarantee equal access to treatment as a |
| preventive treatment. | | | | self-evident precondition for choice. |
| Genetic Profiling | | | | - Carefully prioritise public funds. Conduct a clear |
| Increased research in the brain’s structure and | | | | information policy on the costs of prophylactic |
| functioning is giving scientists the opportunity to | | | | measures, check-ups, and treatments. |
| relate the genetic structure of individual’s with | | | | - Don’t streamline research along political, financial |
| the possible development of particular brain | | | | or materialistic deliberations but keep it open in all |
| conditions. Such procedure could allow the recognition | | | | scientifically relevant directions (blue sky research). |
| of pattern which would predict the incidence of | | | | The Next Steps |
| mental health diseases prior to the actual | | | | “Since January 2006 the partner organisations |
| development of the disease. Issues? The burden of | | | | have launched different types of initiatives at both |
| knowing the future for an individual that is likely to | | | | national and European level to disseminate results and |
| develop a mental health disease. | | | | provide policy advice to relevant stakeholders and |
| Themes and Final Recommendations | | | | policy makers. Such initiatives include presentations in |
| The project’s meeting on January produced | | | | relevant fora such as national parliaments and |
| more than 100 recommendations in six different | | | | scientific conferences, and the organisation of policy |
| areas of brain research. Following are some of them: | | | | advice workshops. Willing citizens can play a key role |
| Regulation and Control | | | | during these events.” ( |
| - Increase the transparency of public funding | | | | Will the international efforts to overlook brain |
| allocation mechanisms and its links to solving social | | | | research work? The process is on its way, and time |
| issues. | | | | will tell. If the implementation of the several proposed |
| - Extend the reach of ethical oversight to | | | | recommendations is effective through the political, |
| non-experimental research. | | | | medical and social layers of participant EU countries |
| - Prevent the misuse of human beings for | | | | – it may be time to consider how scalable this |
| experimental research. | | | | project could be. |
| - Make disclosure of privately-funded brain research | | | | As the knowledge of brain functioning and particular |
| activities into a legal requirement. | | | | interactions between neural networks is increasingly |
| - Increase transparency of ongoing research to align | | | | expanding, a discussion could arise from the very |
| public funding. | | | | heart of mental health: how much impact can brain |
| - Increase public funding for fundamental research. | | | | research provoke in the several mental health |
| - Minimise bureaucratic barriers to encourage | | | | disciplines? Will learning paradigms shift – or will |
| collaborative research. | | | | brain research support contemporary theories? The |
| - Strengthen legal regimes on discrimination against | | | | blueprints of a new era are under development – |
| persons with mental conditions, particularly in their | | | | and the next steps will be promising. |
| workplaces. | | | | Subscribe to our FREE eZine. |
| Normalcy versus Diversity | | | | |