Medical researchers were able to disrupt the moral judgments of test subjects by subjecting the part of the brain responsible for such decisions to magnetic forces:
Link via Alphecca | Image: NASA
For their experiment, the scientists had 20 subjects read several dozen different stories about people with good or bad intentions that resulted in a variety of outcomes.
One typical story was about a boyfriend who leads his girlfriend across a bridge. In some versions, the boyfriend harmlessly walked his girlfriend across the bridge with no ill effect. In other cases, the boyfriend intentionally led the girlfriend along so she would break her ankle. The subjects used a seven point scale -- one being forbidden and seven completely permissible -- to record whether they through the situation was morally acceptable or not.
While the subjects read the story, the scientists applied a magnetic field using a method known as transcranial magnetic stimulation. The magnetic fields created confusion in the neurons that make up the RTPJ, said Young, causing them to fire off electrical pulses chaotically.
Link via Alphecca | Image: NASA
Comments (11)
Specific area of the brain need to be targeted for specific effects to occur... much like electrodes in the brain...
They are using very powerful AC magnetic fields. the magnetism induces a electric current in the targeted area. What is surprising is that they got volunteers to submit to what amounts to having electrodes implanted in their brains.