Barbara J. Sahakian's Books

Sex, Lies, and Brain Scans

How fMRI reveals what really goes on in our minds

By: Barbara J. Sahakian,Julia Gottwald

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Sex, Lies, and Brain Scans

How fMRI reveals what really goes on in our minds

By: Barbara J. Sahakian,Julia Gottwald

The recent explosion of neuroscience techniques has proved to be game changing in terms of understanding the healthy brain, and in the development of neuropsychiatric treatments. One of the key techniques available to us is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which allows us to examine the human brain non-invasively, and observe brain activity in real time. Through fMRI, we are beginning to build a deeper understanding of our thoughts, motivations, and behaviours. Recent reports that some patients who have all indications of being in a persistent vegetative state actually show conscious awareness, and were able to communicate with researchers, demonstrate perhaps the most remarkable and dramatic use of fMRI. But this is just the most striking of a number of areas in which fMRI is being used to 'read minds', albeit in a very limited way. As neuroscientists unravel the regions of the brain involved in reward and motivation, and in romantic love, we are likely to develop the capacity to influence responses such as love using drugs. fMRI studies have also been used to indicate that many people who would not regard themselves as racist show a racial bias in their emotional responses to faces of another racial group. Meanwhile, the reliability of fMRI as a lie detector in murder cases is being debated - what if the individual simply believes, falsely, that he or she committed a murder? Sex, Lies, and Brain Scans takes readers beyond the media headlines. Barbara J. Sahakian and Julia Gottwald consider what the technique of fMRI entails, and what information it can give us, showing which applications are possible today, and which ones are science fiction. They also consider the important ethical questions these techniques raise. Should individuals applying for jobs as teachers or judges be screened for unconscious racial bias? What if the manipulation of love using 'love potions' was misused for economic or military ends? How far will we allow neuroscience to go? It is time to make up our minds.

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Page Count

140

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0191067180

ISBN 13

9780191067181

Mental Capital and Wellbeing

By: Cary L. Cooper,Usha Goswami,Barbara J. Sahakian

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Mental Capital and Wellbeing

By: Cary L. Cooper,Usha Goswami,Barbara J. Sahakian

This major new reference presents The Foresight MentalCapital and Wellbeing Project (a UK Government project in theGovernment Office for Science). It offers a comprehensiveexploration of how mental capital and wellbeing operate over thelifespan; how experiences in the family, in school, at work andfollowing retirement augment or reduce mental capital andwellbeing, and the impact that this has for the individual and forthe welfare and economic progress of the nation. Mental Capital and Wellbeingcomprises a series ofscientific reviews written by leading international scientists andsocial scientists in the field. The reviews undertake systematicanalyses of the evidence base surrounding five key themes, on whichthey propose future policies will have to be based. Aninternationally renowned team of Editors introduce each theme anddraw together conclusions in terms of both policy andpractice. Section 1 (Mental Capital and Wellbeing Through Life)– Mental capital refers to the totality of anindividual’s cognitive and emotional resources, includingtheir cognitive capability, flexibility and efficiency of learning,emotional intelligence and resilience in the face of stress. Theextent of an individual’s resources reflects his or her basicendowment (e.g. genes and early biological programming), motivationand experiences (e.g. education) which take place throughout thelife course. This section presents the very latest on the scienceof mental capital throughout life. Section 2 (Learning Through Life) provides a coherentoverview of a fast-moving and complex field of policy and practice.Educational attainment has a considerable impact on physical andmental wellbeing, both directly and indirectly, by enabling peoplebetter to achieve their goals. The ability to continue learningthroughout the lifespan is critical to a successful and rewardinglife in contemporary societies. Section 3 (Mental Health and Ill-Health) draws together themost recent evidence about positive mental health as well as arange of mental disorders to consider their importance to thepopulation and economy in terms of prevalence and disability andthe wider burden on society. Section 4 (Wellbeing and Work) – It is estimated that13 million working days are lost through stress each year, costingthe economy over £3.7 billion per annum. This theme exploresthose drivers that influence the nature and structure of work andthe impact this has on employee wellbeing. Section 5 (Learning Difficulties) – This theme providesa cutting-edge picture of how recent insights from genetics,cognitive and neuroscience improve our understanding of learningdifficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia andattention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Reviews focus on howcurrent research can contribute to early diagnosis and improvedintervention.

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Page Count

1040

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons

Published Date

ISBN 10

144430772X

ISBN 13

9781444307726

Bad Moves

How decision making goes wrong, and the ethics of smart drugs

By: Barbara Sahakian,Jamie Nicole LaBuzetta

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Bad Moves

How decision making goes wrong, and the ethics of smart drugs

By: Barbara Sahakian,Jamie Nicole LaBuzetta

Making decisions is such a regular activity that it is mostly taken for granted. However, damage or abnormality in the areas of the brain involved in decision-making can severely affect personality and the ability to manage even simple tasks. Here, Barbara Sahakian and Jamie Nicole LaBuzetta discuss the process of normal decision making - our strategies for making decisions, biases that affect us, and influential factors - and then describe the abnormal patterns found in patients with conditions such as severe depression, Alzheimer's, and accidental brain damage. Using striking examples and case studies from their own research to show the impact of abnormal decision making, they introduce the concept of 'hot' and 'cold' decision making based on the level of emotions involved, showing that in various psychiatric conditions extreme emotions alter the pattern of decision making. Looking at the ways in which the brain can be manipulated to improve cognitive function in these patients, they consider the use of 'smart drugs' that alleviate these problems. The realization that smart drugs can improve cognitive abilities in healthy people has led to growing general use, with drugs easily available via the Internet. They raise ethical questions about the availability of these drugs for cognitive enhancement, in the hope of informing public debate about an increasingly important issue.

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Page Count

180

Publisher

OUP Oxford

Published Date

ISBN 10

0191645524

ISBN 13

9780191645525

Sex, Lies, and Brain Scans

How fMRI reveals what really goes on in our minds

By: Barbara J. Sahakian,Julia Gottwald

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Sex, Lies, and Brain Scans

How fMRI reveals what really goes on in our minds

By: Barbara J. Sahakian,Julia Gottwald

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

140

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0191067180

ISBN 13

9780191067181

Book's by Barbara J. Sahakian

Sex, Lies, and Brain Scans

Sex, Lies, and Brain Scans

Mental Capital and Wellbeing

Mental Capital and Wellbeing

Bad Moves

Bad Moves

Sex, Lies, and Brain Scans

Sex, Lies, and Brain Scans

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