The Pros And Cons Of Brain Research

As of 2015, 200 to 225 million animals are said to used in laboratory research for the biomedical industry annually worldwide. Typically defended by arguments of reliability and human health benefits, recently the question of ethics and values placed on animal testing have caused it to become a relevant and pressing topic that has been more widely discussed and debated. First off, the laboratory conditions that are instigated upon millions of animal models for the sake of medical research has been said to be unethical and cruel. Additionally, it has been debated that the results of animal experimentation are unreliable across a wide range of areas. Lastly, animal testing not only leads away from the direction of resources from more effective testing methods but also prolongs the duration of time humans may need to wait for an effective cure. Therefore, the potential benefits of animal experimentation are greatly outweighed by the risks and collective harm of humans and animals which is why resources should be directed towards more human-based testing procedures.

Worldwide, there has always been a plethora of issues concerning whether animals should or should not be used for biomedical research. There are some advocating for the best and most-advanced medicine for the people; with disregard for the animal’s health. They believe people’s needs should be the first concern. However, others put the animal’s health first. If the animal is not in safe conditions, then it does not matter what medicine advances might be discovered. Biomedical research is defined as “The application of the natural sciences, especially the biological and physiological sciences, to clinical medicine” (“Biomedicine.” Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com, www.dictionary.com/browse/biomedical.). Without biomedical research on animals, modern medicine would not exist. Animal testing has enabled the findings of treatments for cancer, antibiotics for infections, and preventatives for illnesses. For these reasons, animal testing should be used in the process of developing biomedical research.

The Helsinki declaration was founded in 1964 and since here they have been updating principles of good practice in this kinds of experiments. They say, “Welfare of animals used for research must be respected”. Since here the ethical views for non-humans subjects started. Later on the APA gave instructions to determine whether an experiments on animals is acceptable or not. For example animal research should not harm the animal or distress it on any way. If the researchers don’t follow this code, they wont be allowed to keep on with the experiment.

1. Brain Based Research: What does this tell us about young children 's brains and how they best learn? What ideas do teachers of young children need to keep in mind?

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” (Mahatma Gandhi). Scientists have been using animals for biomedical research for centuries. They provide a source to get information scientists can not get without harming humans. A lot of debate is spread about whether it is good or bad. Animal experimentation is a controversial topic because it is helpful to humans, but it is also cruel and inhumane.

If the only justification for these animal tests is if the only animal use in experimentation provides greater benefit to the health of humankind than the cost to the animals. Clinical trials, especially for drugs for alzheimers, asthma, polio, antibiotics, meningitis, and other critical diseases go through animal testing phases before reaching human test groups. Some of these drugs have been trialled successfully in humans, but their safety and efficacy was first established in small and observable animal populations. It begs the question that- if animals are hurt by testing, but in the long run, human lives are saved, what is morally correct?

One reason that it isn’t ethical to do scientific research on animals is because animals are killed each year. About 20 million animals are experimented and killed annually. LIke I said before animals are starved, shocked, burned, and poisoned as scientists look for something that just might yield some human benefit. In one case, baby mice had their legs chopped off so that experimenters could observe whether they 'd learn to groom themselves with their stumps. In another, polar bears were submerged in a tank of crude oil and salt water to see if they 'd live. And, for those experiments which do have merit, there exist many non-animal alternatives. We don’t need animals to die. When scientists test

The first two requirements from Hockenbury and Hockenbury is that the research must have an “acceptable scientific purpose” and that the study “must increase knowledge about species, behavior, or benefits the health or welfare of humans or nonhuman animals;” these requirements are easily met for this experiment as the discoveries that would be made into the function of the hypothalamus by completion of this experiment could be very helpful to both human and nonhuman animals. The third requirement (that the research must “must meet local, state and federal guidelines regulating care of research animals,”) however, requires the assumption this guideline was followed even if it were not explicitly stated in the description of the experiment. It cannot be known for sure if this guideline was followed as we are not told where this study is being conducted.

Animals should not be used for scientific experiments. According to ‘Should Animals Be Used for Scientific or Commercial Testing?’ Animals are so different from human beings that research

However, the methods of obtaining such research are often seen as inhumane and barbaric. Upon researching such ethical treatments, I realized primates in particular undergo horrendous procedures. Which may often result in manipulation, or death. Vice News Journalist Miriam Wells provides us with insight on laboratory conditions by stating “Primates are forced to share a cage with another monkey with only 4.8 cubic meters of space (Wells).” What sounds like a prison is actually the basis of monitoring any issues that arise while conducting a study. A particular treatment known DBS also known as Deep Brain Stimulation has made major breakthroughs to those who suffer with Parkinson’s Disease. The irreversible destruction of neurons from such disease leaves one left with no hope. However, with new information of how the brain reacts to electrical stimulation, suffers can control the progressive disease. Both primates, and humans are common models for conducting research involving DBS. Physician researcher Eugene Redmon Jr mentions specific guidelines “Research among humans should not be subjected to unknown risks, or ones without benefits. Substances, and treatments however, should be tested in animals (Redmon Jr).” Following such guidelines allows room for potential risks involved with an intensive procedure. Hundreds of thousands of Americans suffering with Parkinson's

Animal experimentation has been at the forefront of brain research for decades. Rats, mice, rabbits, dogs, pigs, and monkeys are all used to develop drugs and treatments to benefit humans. Even though animal brains do not precisely mimic the biology of the human brain, their brains have many of the same basic structures and functions. Animal research, that is, the use of animals as experimental subjects in biomedical and behavioural fields of learning, has been institutionalised on the basis of two key assumptions, one factual and one moral. The factual assumption is that animal research provides a reliable basis for predicting the effects of drugs, products and yield significant scientific conclusions and medical benefits for society. The

No one with firm morals enjoys endangering or subjecting animals to harm, especially when it is not absolutely necessary. That is why the laws and regulations set forth by organizations like OLAW and the USDA exist—to ensure that the minimal amount of harm is committed to the minimal number of animals while still allowing researchers to study and better understand the perplexities of human systems. The experimental animal research performed by scientists such as Alexander Fleming, Ernst Chain, and Howard Florey contributed to a shift in the tide of World War II in the fact that millions of soldiers who would have lost their lives to infections of superficial wounds or pneumonia were now able to continue fighting and return home to their loved ones. Animal research continues to be beneficial for pre-clinical trials today and to study the brain. Without animals to act as analogues to the human brain, researchers would be severely limited in the methods available to study something such as the functionality of the brain when considering all of its intricacies such as complex thought, evaluative judgement, and social behaviors. The alternative to animal research trials would include clinical trials for drugs which have not been analyzed and tested thoroughly, less data for researchers to utilize to further the progression of the overall understanding of the human body and its complex systems, and costly invasive procedures on humans in order to study behavior which could injure, adversely affect the patient for the rest of their lives, or worse. I implore you to consider, is that truly the ideal world that you

This is a sensitive issue area in regards to research. There are many types of research that just are not feasible to do with human subjects; therefore the justification for non-human animals come into the experiment. Even though there are many benefits to using animals, many animal rights groups maintain strong opposition to using animals for research. This is why the APA has developed the Committee on Animal Research and Ethics (CARE). It is the responsibility of CARE to audit that all ethics regarding animal usage is followed (“Committee on animal,” 2014). Due to the sensitivity of testing on animals the APA has developed very strict standards regarding usage of animals as subjects. They range from justification, housing of said animal, acquisition, and procedures. These requirements outline absolute necessity in order to reduce the unnecessary usage of animals in testing.

Neuroscientists are continually unraveling new ideas about the brain that is seems like we have known its function for almost forever. This is in fact not the case. For the majority of history, scientists and physicians thought the brain was simple made up of mucus. During the renaissance, those studying the human anatomy believed the brain to be almost entirely not there. Rather it was the result of animal spirits that commanded our cognitive reasoning.

Animal experimentation has been an easy and ethically acceptable way to research and test medicines and treatments for humans since the time of the ancient Greeks. Animals opened the door for the scientists and philosophers of old to learn facts about the human body that were previously explained with magic and superstition. Naturally, science has come a long way since the ancient Greeks. Today, we have a whole host of medical resources at our disposal, which begs the question: Do we need animals in medical research anymore? In addition, the practices with regard to animals at thousands of labs across the United States have been notoriously vague for years. It has only been in the last fifty years that people have begun to question the necessity of animal testing, and the degree of freedom that lab workers should be given with these animals. Due to the availability of other options, the unnecessary testing of already proven theories, and the unreliability of results, it is evident that the rights and humane treatment of animals has precedence over their use in medical research.