Neuroethics & Law Blog

"Noblesse Oblige? Determinants of Survival in a Life and Death Situation"

This paper, recently posted to SSRN, sounds very interesting:

"Noblesse Oblige? Determinants of Survival in a Life and Death Situation"

CESifo Working Paper Series No. 2425

BRUNO S. FREY, University of Zurich - Institute for Empirical Research in Economics (IEW), CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute for Economic Research), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
DAVID A. SAVAGE, Queensland University of Technology
BENNO TORGLER, Queensland University of Technology, CREMA, CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute for Economic Research)
This paper explores the determinants of survival in a life-and-death situation created by an external and unpredictable shock. We are interested in seeing whether pro-social behaviour matters in such extreme situations. We therefore focus on the sinking of the RMS Titanic as a quasi-natural experiment to provide behavioural evidence that is rare in such a controlled and life threatening event. The empirical results support that social norms such as "women and children first" survive in such an environment. We also observe that women of reproductive age have a higher probability of surviving among women. On the other hand, we observe that crew members used their information advantage and their better access to resources (e.g. lifeboats) to generate a higher probability of surviving. The paper also finds that passenger class, fitness, group size, and cultural background matter.

Video Describing the Knobe Effect

The following video provides a colorful little summary of a key area of study among experimental philosophers (sometimes known as the (Joshua) Knobe effect):

Placebo Deception in the WSJ

Sally Satel has an essay in Friday's Wall Street Journal entitled, "It's All in Your Head".  The piece discusses recent research finding that doctors prescribe placebo treatments surprisingly often.  Though they do not often prescribe placebos like sugar pills or saline solutions, they often prescribe so-called impure placebos where a medication that has some specific effects (like antibiotics or vitamins) is used in a situation where the doctors does not expect the treatment to have any specific effect on the patient's condition.  Rather, the doctor hopes that the treatment will have a placebo effect.

She references my law review article on the topic in the third-to-last paragraph.  You can download the law review article here.

Coverage of the Neuroethics Society First Annual Meeting

The Neuroethics Society pulled off a fantastic event last Thursday and Friday.  The event has attracted quite a bit of attention, and I'm told that attendance surpassed expectations. 

Here are some links to coverage of the event (feel free to add more in the comments):

• Dana Press Blog (and here from Nicky Penttila)
• Chronicle of Higher Education
• Krasnow Institute (Jim Olds)
• AAAS Press Release

Neuroethics Society First Annual Meeting

As I blogged about earlier, the Neuroethics Society's First Annual Meeting begins tomorrow, Nov. 13, in Washington, DC and ends on Friday, Nov.14.  The program is here.  I will arrive late Thursday evening and look forward to meeting lots of Neuroethics & Law Blog readers on Friday.

"Neuroimaging, Pain, and the Law"

On December 4, I'll be speaking at Stanford's "Neuroimaging, Pain, and the Law" event.  There's a bit about the conference available here, and I suspect more information may be added as the day gets closer.

Training and Education Coordinator at UBC

This job listing is posted on behalf of Judy Illes and Sofia Lombera at UBC:

Knowledge Translation Training and Education Coordinator
National Core for Neuroethics
Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine
The University of British Columbia

POSITION DESCRIPTION
The University of British Columbia, Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, in
partnership with the Canadian Dementia Knowledge Translation Network (CDKTN), is seeking
a coordinator to spearhead an emerging program focused on knowledge translation training
and education. The chosen candidate will further the CDKTNʼs global mission of developing a
sustainable infrastructure for dementia-related knowledge translation (KT) and exchange by
establishing a collaborative and integrated network of key stakeholders. Specifically, the
candidate will be responsible for assessing and developing specific training programs and
opportunities for researchers, health practitioners, and teachers in knowledge translation and
exchange in dementia research. Additionally, he/she will be integral in establishing funding
opportunities and research projects throughout the duration of the program. This is multi-year
position with annual renewal contingent upon funding and satisfactory performance.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS
• Masters degree strongly preferred, with research and/or program delivery
experience in knowledge translation and exchange
• Experience and knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, web design,
the Internet, data mining, and other computer skills.
• Superior organizational skills
• Strong leadership skills and demonstrated ability to take initiative
• Previous experience working with research guidelines and procedures as well as
curriculum development within an academic community
• Appreciation for multi-disciplinary approach and an understanding of the societal
role of dementia and mental illness
• Excellent communication skills
For further information visit www.neuroethics.ubc.ca
To apply please send a cover letter and resume to slombera@interchange.ubc.ca

Neuroethics Project Coordinator at UBC

This job listing is posted on behalf of Judy Illes and Sofia Lombera at UBC:

Neuroethics Project Coordinator
National Core for Neuroethics
Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine
The University of British Columbia

POSITION DESCRIPTION
The National Core for Neuroethics, located at University of British Columbia, Department
of Medicine, Division of Neurology, is seeking a Neuroethics Project Coordinator to work
with the team on a number of projects related to perspectives on neuroimaging research,
and research on and treatment of neurodegenerative disease and spinal cord injury. The
specific projects involve semi-structured interviews and focus groups.
The chosen candidate will build upon past research demonstrating the importance of the
voice of stakeholders in human neuroscience research. Specifically, the candidate will be
responsible for coordinating interviews and focus groups with researchers, patients,
physicians and others, assisting with the collection of data and analyses, and manuscript
preparation.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS
• Bachelorʼs degree with qualitative research experience
• Experience and knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MaxQDA, the
Internet, data mining, and other computer skills.
• Superior organizational skills
• Strong leadership skills and demonstrated ability to take initiative
• Previous experience working with research guidelines and procedures
• Excellent communication skills
For further information visit www.neuroethics.ubc.ca
To apply please send a cover letter and resume to slombera@interchange.ubc.ca

Eyewitness Identification and Change Blindness

Recently posted to SSRN:

"'Unconscious Transference' Can Be an Instance of 'Change Blindness'"

Applied Cognitive Psychology, Vol. 22, pp. 605-623, 2008
UC Irvine School of Law Research Paper No. 2008-09

DEBORAH DAVIS, University of Nevada, Reno
ELIZABETH F. LOFTUS, University of California, Irvine - Department of Psychology and Social Behavior
SAMUEL VANOUS, University of Utah
MICHAEL CUCCIARE, Stanford University - School of Medicine

Three experiments investigated the role of 'change blindness' in mistaken eyewitness identifications of innocent bystanders to a simulated crime. Two innocent people appeared briefly in a filmed scene in a supermarket. The 'continuous innocent' (CI) walked down the liquor aisle and passed behind a stack of boxes, where upon the perpetrator emerged and stole a bottle of liquor, thereby resulting in an action sequence promoting the illusion of continuity between perpetrator and innocent. The 'discontinuous innocent' (DI) was shown immediately afterward in the produce aisle. Results revealed that: (1) more than half of participants failed to notice the change between the CI and the perpetrator, (2) among those who failed to notice the change, more misidentified the 'CI' than the 'DI', a pattern that did not hold for those who did notice the change. Participants were less likely to notice the change when they were distracted while watching the video.

Neuroscience Boot Camp

The University of Pennsylvania is offering an intensive "Neuroscience Boot Camp" this summer to introduce a broad swath of scholars, students, and practitioners to social and affective neuroscience.  The program, which runs from August 2-12, 2009, will no doubt be of interest to the neuroethics community.  Here is some more information from the website:

Why Neuroscience Boot Camp?

Neuroscience is increasingly relevant to a number of professions and academic disciplines beyond its traditional medical applications.  Lawyers, educators, economists and businesspeople, as well as scholars of sociology, philosophy, applied ethics and policy, are incorporating the concepts and methods of neuroscience into their work.  Indeed, for any field in which it is important to understand, predict or influence human behavior, neuroscience will play an increasing role.  The Penn Neuroscience Boot Camp is designed to give participants a basic foundation in cognitive and affective neuroscience and to equip them to be informed consumers of neuroscience research.

What happens at Neuroscience Boot Camp?

Through a combination of lectures, break-out groups, panel discussions and laboratory visits, participants will gain an understanding of the methods of neuroscience and key findings on the cognitive and social-emotional functions of the brain, lifespan development and disorders of brain function.

Each lecture will be followed by extensive Q&A.  Break-out groups will allow participants to delve more deeply into topics of relevance to their fields.  Laboratory visits will include trip to an MRI scanner, an EEG/ERP lab, an animal neurophysiology lab, and a transcranial magnetic stimulation lab.  Participants will also have access to an extensive online library of copyrighted materials selected for relevance to the Boot Camp, including classic and review articles and textbook chapters in cognitive and affective neuroscience and the applications of neuroscience to diverse fields.

The Boot Camp faculty consists of leaders in the fields of cognitive and affective neuroscience who are committed to the goal of educating nonneuroscientists.  Several of our faculty have won awards for their teaching.

Post-Docs in Law and Neuroscience

The following message is posted on behalf of Andrew Mansfield and the MacArthur Law and Neuroscience Project:

The MacArthur Law and Neuroscience Project, based at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is currently accepting applications for post-doctoral fellows for July 2009 to July 2010.  We are seeking researchers who are interested in the intersection of law and neuroscience with experience in law, neuroscience, philosophy and/or a combination of those fields.  We are currently exploring issues of criminal responsibility, prediction, and the use of neuroscience in legal decision-making.  Various research projects led by or including prominent scholars and judges at over two dozen leading institutions are currently being launched.  The program operates under a $10 million three-year grant and we are currently in year two of the project.  Candidates must be willing to relocate to Santa Barbara.  The position pays between $42,000 and $50,000 annually for a full time fellow depending on degree.  Half time positions may also be offered.  The University of California is an enthusiastic participant in affirmative action and an equal opportunity employer.  We encourage applications form those who embrace our commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and public service.  For more information see: http://www.lawandneuroscienceproject.org.  Please email a resume and three recommendation contacts to Andrew Mansfield at amansfield@lawneuro.org.

Woody Allen on memory enhancers

Here.