Ludvic Zrinzo a consultant neurosurgeon and senior clinical researcher at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and the Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, will deliver a lecture on Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) at the next meeting of the Philosophy Society to be held on April 30 at 7 p.m. at Francis Ebejer Hall, Lecture Centre.DBS is a powerful surgical technique developed to treat chronic neurological disorders whereby electrodes implanted deep within various structures of the human brain allow clinicians to modify abnormal brain activity, providing relief from disabling symptoms of conditions such as Parkinson's disease and Dystonia.
However, surgical modulation of human brain function can also influence thought and emotion as well as movement.
Chronic pain, Tourette syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder and depression have all been treated with DBS.
Should our society hail the therapeutic advent of brain control or denounce it because of potential abuse? Mr Zrinzo's presentation is an introduction to the reality and aspirations of functional neurosurgery. It is anticipated that the subject matter will inspire a healthy ethical and philosophical debate among the participants.
