TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 2 3 5 6 7
Letter from the Editors
8 10 12 13 14 FEATURE
To Adderall or Not to Adderall? By: Denitsa Vasileva
Epilepsy and Medical Marijuana By: Tushar Singh
Artwork: Brain Preservation and Immortality By: Jeremy Wong
Neuroscience and the Transfer of a Mind
Thinking Caps: An opinion piece on the personhood of the head transplant By: Terese Perre
Mind of a Pedophile By: Eileen Liu
Editorial board: Meet the Interneuron team!
Upcoming Events
By: Peter Zhang
Put Yourself in Someone Else's Brain By: Sandy Ma
Interneuron . Volume 3, Issue 1 . November 2015
Get Involved!
Letter from the
Editors
Dear Readers, Welcome back!
Interneuron is so glad to have the opportunity to bring you yet another year filled with the latest in neuro! With a new year and a new editorial board, we hope to bring a new perspective to the magazine. This first issue’s theme is ‘Neuroethics and Law’, including articles such as Thinking Caps, and Mind of a Pedophile. Something new that we’ve begun to incorporate is smaller, 250-300 word comments/responses to topics to accompany an article on the subject. This will hopefully add multiple perspectives to a controversial or interesting topic. Mark your calendars! Oh wait; we’ve done all the work for you! This issue, we’ve included a calendar including upcoming events (pg. 13) , not only from Interneuron, but also from other undergraduate neuroscience clubs such as Neuroscience Association of Undergraduate Students (NAUS), Students’ Alzheimer’s Alliance U of T (SAAUT), as well as the Neuroscience Journal Club (NJC). We are so excited to be collaborating with them, with hopes of bringing you a more comprehensive coverage of Neuroscience at UofT! If you do attend any of the events, please feel free to write an article about your experience; we would love to include it in our next issue! Speaking of events, Interneuron is eagerly planning for our first ever social, to be held next semester. After a screening of a movie (to be decided by a vote? Follow us on facebook!), we will be opening the floor to an open discussion about the relevant neuroscientific implications over refreshments with grad students, and hopefully a few members from faculty! If this sounds like something of interest, or if you have any suggestions on how to make this inaugural event even better, drop us a line! We look forward to seeing you there! As always, we would like to thank all of our contributors as well as our editorial board for dedicating so much time to this issue in the midst of midterms. If you would like to contribute to our next issue, please come out to our next general meeting where we have a brainstorm on ideas for articles and artwork. Let us know what you think of this issue at interneuron.utoronto@gmail.com.
Contributors Authors Denitsa Vasileva Tushar Singh Peter Zhang Sandy Ma Terese Perre Eileen Liu Front Page Artwork Andrea Macanović Artwork Jeremy Wong Layout Aileen Zhou Exectuive Team Priscilla Chan Susmita Sarkar Toni Dayno Wazaira Khan Ann Sheng Wan Xian Koh Alicja Dobrazanski
We hope you enjoy! Susmita and Priscilla Editors in Co-Chief
Suroor Aziz Photography by: Sandy Ma
1
To Adderrall or Not to Adderall? Denitsa Vasileva “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
tors that function by blocking a transporter protein in the
This is one of the most famous opening lines in English
synapse and inhibiting the reuptake of monoamines,
literature used by Charles Dickens in his “Tale of Two
particularly dopamine2. This leads to an increase in
Cities” to concisely describe the tumult, contradiction
dopamine concentrations in the brain1. Dopamine is crit-
and uncertainty of the French Revolution.
ical in activating the sympathetic nervous system and
I would argue that it is an apt description for the
enhancing signals between the hippocampus and the
tumultuous period of self-discovery commonly referred
pre-frontal cortex, involved in memory and decision-
to as our university days.
making respectively1.
Close your eyes for a minute and reflect on your life as a student. What is the first thing that pops into your head? What is your most vivid memory? The defining moment of the defining period of your life? I often get flashes of countless sleepless nights, balancing books in one hand and a seemingly bottomless coffee mug in the other. Caffeine flowed through my veins while I engaged in a starring contest with the clock
There is also concern, among scientists and students alike, that these drugs are, much like performance enhancers in sports, giving “unfair and unnatural” advantages to the students willing to take them.
whose every stroke felt like a condemnation. Each stroke sent jolts of panic through my body, amplifying the
However, a heated debate surrounds the ethical, physi-
knot in my stomach and the desperation in my head.
cal and psychological implications of frequent use of
As you’ve probably already guessed, I am, like many students, a procrastinator.
neuroenhancer. For one, despite no evidence that prescribed Ritalin is a gateway to drug addiction, scientists
And, like many, I have often wondered if there was
have voiced concerns that given its structural and func-
a cure. If there was something that I could take to switch
tional similarities to cocaine, a highly potent and addic-
off my procrastination tendencies and turn me into the
tive stimulator, it can lead to dependence when taken
focused, determined and engaged student I have futilely
without medical supervision2. In fact, both Adderall and
strived to be.
Ritalin are Schedule II drugs with “abuse potential”2.
Turns out that I am not alone. Some industrious
However, a survey conducted at the University of Ken-
students have worked out a way to keep procrastination
tucky showed that many students do not perceive
at bay with a simple pill.
Adderall and Ritalin as dangerous, even ranking them
The most widely used “procrastination cures” on
as less dangerous than beer and cigarettes1.
campus are methylphenidate and amphetamine salts,
Moreover, there is disagreement over the physical
more commonly known among students as Adderall and
effects of these drugs. While most users report an in-
Ritalin. These belong to a class of drugs called neuroen-
crease in focus and alertness, they also note some side
hancers and are frequently prescribed to children suffer-
effects such as nervousness, headaches, sleepiness
ing from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
and decreased appetite3. Scientists are also quick to
as they lead to increased alertness and productivity1. In
point out that there is little information about the long-
healthy
adults, these medications have been shown
term effects these drugs may have on cognitive function
to improve cognitive function as measured by reaction
and physiology1. According to Dr. Nora Volkow, the di-
time and working memory1.
rector of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, these
2
Much like cocaine, Adderall and Ritalin are stimula-
drugs might result in long-term adverse side effects
Interneuron . Volume 3, Issue 1 . November 2015
such as decreased cognitive function and drug dependence .
As drugs like Ritalin and Adderall become more and more prevalent on campuses, the controversy that
1
There
is
also
concern,
surrounds them will continue. Until there is a clear un-
among scientists and students
derstanding of their utility and effects, I have vowed to
alike, that these drugs are, much
look within myself to overcome procrastination.
like performance enhancers in
As Winston Churchill said, “Difficulties mastered are op-
sports, giving “unfair and unnatu-
portunities won”.
ral” advantages to the students
References
willing to take them. However, Dr.
1
Hedy Kober argues that these
Connection and the Controversy. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
drugs do not differ from stimulators like caffeine, sugar and food,
2
which all lead to an altered state1.
Onyebeke,S. (2012, May 9). Study Drugs and Neural Enhancers:
Science and Controversy.. Retrieved October 24, 2015. 3
Artwork by: Prsiclla Chan
University of Utah. (2015, April 17). Ritalin and Cocaine: The
Chiose, S. (2013, October 18).16-page paper, two pills, three hours:
Students talk about study drugs. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
Epilepsy & Medical Marijuana Tushar Singh Medical Marijuana! The drug that has always been
first started in China than it spread to India and than it
a subject of controversy and causing divided opinions
went to countries like Egypt and Syria2. Therefore, mari-
across all professions, from politics to medicine. The
juana has a long history of its use for medicinal purpos-
research regarding marijuana has always been contro-
es.
versial and scrutinized compared to other drugs (i.e.
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that are
cocaine). It has been legalized in certain countries such
secreted by Cannabis sativa flowers5. Marijuana has
as Netherlands and certain states in United States such
around 60 compounds, which can be classified into 3
as Colorado1. In terms of treating epilepsy, medical mar-
broad categories: 1- endocannabinoids (the cannabi-
ijuana should be legalized when other anti-seizure
noids in the body), 2- phytocannabinoids, which are
drugs do not work.
compounds in the plant such as THC (tetrahydro-
Marijuana is a drug that can be used recreationally,
cannabinol) and Cannabidiol, and 3- synthetic cannabi-
medically, and spiritually2,3. Another name for marijuana
noids, which are synthetically made and used for phar-
is Cannabis sativa3. Recreational marijuana is used for
maceutical purposes such as THC2,4. They act by using
getting intoxicated (i.e. getting high) (Bostwick, 2012).
2 receptors (CB1 and CB2 receptors). CB1 receptors
Medical marijuana, on the other hand, is a type of mari-
are found in presynaptic neurons, particularly in the hip-
juana (Cannabis sativa) that is used for the sole purpose
pocampus (especially CA3 region), lateral striatum,
of treating diseases, especially epilepsy3. Therefore,
substantia nigra, etc. Endocannabinoids are largely de-
these are the main ways of using marijuana.
pendent on this receptor. CB2 receptors, on the other
The use of marijuana can be traced back to China
hand, are found in cells of immune system. They are
(2700 BC) and India (1000 BC), where it eventually en-
both G-protein coupled receptors that require sec-
tered Western medicine for its medicinal purposes4. It
ondary chemical messengers to initiate action4.
3
There are various routes of administering
Deshpande et al. (2007) on status epilepticus in hip-
cannabis, of which the most common are smoking and
pocampus, it was found that endocannabinoids does
orally. Smoking marijuana is preferred because it results
play a role in preventing status epilepticus particularly
in rapid absorption and onset of psychoactive effects.
CB1 receptor. A CB1 receptor antagonist does inhibit
This is the sole purpose of recreational use4. The likeli-
seizures whereas CB1 receptor agonist terminates
hood of overdosing marijuana is relatively low compared
seizures9. An agonist is a substance or drug that mimic
to opiates and alcohol. However, there are certain side
the effects of neurotransmitters in order to stimulate ac-
effects of using marijuana. It has been found that there
tion. Antagonist, on the other hand, does the opposite of
are cognitive impairments caused by marijuana. In a
agonist where it blocks the effects of neurotransmitters
study by Meijer et al. (2011) on patients with non-affec-
(e.g. anti-histamines)10.
tive psychosis (e.g. schizophrenia) and siblings who are
Despite the controversies regarding the use of
not affected by this found that patients with psychosis
medical marijuana in treating epilepsy and other dis-
who had cannabis recently were associated with poor
eases, it should be legalized and be kept as last resort
performance on immediate verbal learning tasks, pro-
if other drugs or treatments fail to cure epilepsy and
cessing speed and working memory. This was not the
other diseases. The studies that have found the side
case for patients who had cannabis over a year6. The
effects of cannabis have solely focused on recreational
side effects of using marijuana can be more severe in
use. There have been no studies conducted on the side
children than in adults as their brain is developing during
effects of medical marijuana. There needs to be further
childhood and adolescence especially the endo-
research made on medical marijuana for treatment such
cannabinoid system7.
as how much dose is sufficient to cure, the potential for
The use of medical marijuana to treat epilepsy has
overdosing, side effects, etc. The studies must be ran-
been controversial. It has been proven to be an anticon-
domized. They should also be conducted on children as
vulsant however there was one study where it was
the doses for adults and children are going to be differ-
proven to be proconvulsant. Before we analyze this, we
ent. The drug should also be regulated like how other
must first define epilepsy. Epilepsy is a neurological dis-
drugs are (i.e. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in
order that disturbs the neuronal activity, which can
United States). There should be a multidisciplinary ap-
cause “strange sensations, emotions, and behavior or
proach taken by medical professions in regards to treat-
sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of
ment by taking account of patient history, preferences,
consciousness.� It is a form of seizure8. There has not
age, etc. before a decision is made whether to adminis-
been a lot of research done on this topic; rather they
ter medical marijuana to treat epilepsy.
have more anecdotal evidence on the efficacy of medi-
References Friedman, D., & Devinsky, O. (2015). Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Epilepsy. New England Journal of Medicine N Engl J Med, 373, 1048-1058. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1407304 8 NINDS Epilepsy Information Page. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2015. 9 Deshpande, L. S., Blair, R. E., Ziobro, J. M., Sombati, S., Martin, B. R., & DeLorenzo, R. J. (2007). Endocannabinoids block status epilepticus in cultured hippocampal neurons. European Journal of Pharmacology, 558(1-3), 52-59. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2006.11.030 10 Agonist vs. Antagonist. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2015 7
cal marijuana in treating epilepsy when anti-seizure drugs did not work. Most anecdotal evidence supports the idea that cannabinoids can treat epilepsy as cannabis has anti-seizure effects7. There are various studies, however, have been done on endocannabinoid system and its role in preventing epilepsy. In a study by
4
Interneuron . Volume 3, Issue 1 . November 2015
IMMORTALITY
Featured artwork...
Artwork by: Jeremy Wong
The theme behind my piece of artwork is °∞Brain Preservation and Immortality°±. The inspirations behind my piece of artwork are my local Roman Catholic community and my friend who inspired me to come up with this piece of artwork. As a child growing up in a Catholic family, I was taught that death is something that every human being has to go through. In my opinion, preserving someone°Øs brain in the laboratory is unethical and disrupts the natural life cycle of human beings. As a student with a strong biochemical background, I included certain chemical elements in my artwork. Each electrode connecting to the brain contain different nutrients and chemicals necessary for the brain preservation process. The background liquid is a specific buffer solution that prevents the brain tissue from degradation. - Jeremy Wong
5
Neuroscience and the Transfer of a Mind Peter Zhang
http://assets.i4cp.com/images/image_uploads/0000/1092/ mind-transfer.jpg?1361986722
It is a curious thing that the concepts of the mind
In the same way as colours, this phenomenon can
and the brain are often interchangeable. Although it
be attributed to other things in life such as sound, taste
seems obvious that one cannot exist without the other,
and small. Simply put, our minds allow us to understand
one can conclude that the mind is something that has a higher potential than confinement within the cranium. With advancements in technology surging and the dreams of science fiction enthusiasts augmenting, there are hopes that one day, the mind can exist outside of the limitations of the brain.
what is around us through interpretation. This fact of life gives us comfort and order which has allowed the formation of society and communication. But, this very aspect is challenging because it could mean that transferring a person’s mind into a piece of technology may actually change who the person is. In an experiment that gave monkeys' visual system a new
However, there are slight issues with the aspect of
colour, the colour red, it was found that the brain had no
transferring a person’s conscience to a computer that
predisposition to colour and that the perception of colour
have not been well-studied due to the limitations of our
needs to be developed. The monkeys did not recognize
current research on the living mind. One thing that we for
what we call red, but their brains had to take in the
sure do not understand is the properties of the
sensory information and interpret it to build monkeys'
uniqueness of our perception relative to the perception
perception. The experiment demonstrates that there is
of others. This is because everything that we believe is
a possibility that a transferred mind will be forced to
a creation of our mind and our mind may interpret the
interpret everything anew again and thus, create a
physical environment in a different way than others'. A
different consciousness out of the same mind. But
recent research study showed that colours are different
without a definitive answer to how a person’s
between individuals but it does not affect how we feel
consciousness is defined by one’s perception, it is hard
about the colour. It goes further to show that colours are
to say whether the results of this process will retain the
defined by the experience we have with the
variables that constructed one’s individuality.
environment. Reference Wolchover, N. (2012, June 29). Your Color Red Really Could Be My Blue. Retrieved October 24, 2015, from http:// www.livescience.com/21275-color-red-blue-scientists.html
6
Interneuron . Volume 3, Issue 1 . November 2015
Put Yourself in Someone Else's Brain Sandy Ma 2015 has been a year of change in Canada. Justin
The challenge will be even greater when he wakes
Trudeau and his nice hair have made Canadian office,
up. A successful surgery will not necessarily lead to a
the Blue Jays came close to winning, Toronto was
successful recovery nor will it definitely lead to a
decorated in orange and multicolour for the Pan Am
successful life. I wonder a lot about the procedure and
Games, Women’s World Cup came to the country, and
risks, the preparation and the scrutiny, but I wonder
the Supermoon showed its face in all its glory.
more about the aftermath, the living.
‘Change’ is often the key word in slogans for
Will he be able to feel? Will he understand tears?
election campaigns, the verb used for new stages in life,
Can he read in between the lines? Understand puns and
the word that brings fear and anxiety of the unexpected.
double entendre? Be able to love? There is more to life
But to one man, it means another life, more specifically,
than the physical body. These other aspects allow life to
another brain and another head.
flourish.
In 2017 Dr. Sergio Canavero, teaming up with
Will he feel the hurt of rejection? How will he feel
Xiaoping Ren, will be performing a 36-hour head
about being left behind? What does he think about
transplant surgery, on 30-year-old Russian computer
fighting for acceptance? Will he understand who he is?
scientist, Valery Spiridonovo who suffers from Werdnig-
These questions may never be answered until you put
Hoffman Disease, a disease that results in the
yourself in someone else’s shoes.
degradation of motor neurons1. The main challenge posed by this surgery, aside from its length, is the body’s response. As with any
References Griffin, A. (2015, September 13). Head transplant: Team selected for controversial operation that will go ahead in 2017. Retrieved October
transplant, there is a risk of organ rejection by the body.
24, 2015, from http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-
Previous experimentations on mice and monkeys have
tech/news/head-transplant-team-selected-for-controversial-
not shown consistent results, prompting the public to
operation-that-will-go-ahead-in-2017-10498627.html
question the odds of success1. In addition, reconnecting
Shi, R., Borgens, R., & Blight, A. (1999, August 16). Functional reconnection of severed mammalian spinal cord axons with
the spinal chord is a difficult, yet critically important task.
polyethylene glycol. Retrieved October 24, 2015, from http://
The reconnection will be done by polymer polyethylene
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10511246
glycol (PEG), a typed of organic glue that is able to facilitate the fusion of axons2.
7
FEATURE Thinking Caps
An opinion piece on the personhood of the head-transplant Terese Perre In 2017, a Russian computer scientist, Valery
“people”? Are amputees less of people? Is a person a
Spiridonov, will be the first human to undergo a head
stream of consciousness and memories? If this is the
transplant. He suffers from a rare motor neuron disease
case, what happens when a person is drunk, or
called Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease, which leads to
sleeping? Are they not “people” for that amount of time?
muscle atrophy and is without treatment thus far.
Perhaps personhood requires other things, like your
Obviously, such a surgery carries with it potential
recognition of others as independent of you, your own
issues, mainly that of rejection: the same problem that
self-awareness, or the potential for autonomy. Or
arises with other organ transplants. Will the head reject
maybe it’s something else entirely, like a soul?
the body? (Lynn 2015) I gawk at the enormity of this
Regarding the article, the personhood questions
procedure. It’s not just a lung or a heart these surgeons
that arise are as follows: If personhood is indeed defined
will be transplanting: an entire human body – with all its
by body, should the procedure be successful, how can
complexities – will be given to another person. How will
Spiridonov say the body is his and maintain his original
they reconnect the spinal cord, or supply the brain with
personhood status? Wasn’t his disease, being part of
enough blood and oxygen throughout the procedure?
his original body, also a part of his being a person? Is he
Many medical professionals, as some laypeople
a different person with a new body? If personhood is
intuitively do, see this procedure as impossible, and
mind, however, his personhood might remain intact –
regard it warily. No doctor has every successfully
consider it like pouring water from one container to
reconnected a spinal cord (Lynn 2015). Nonetheless, as
another, where you are the water: you may have a
with technology and medical practices that were seen as
different shape, but your fundamental properties are
outlandish some generations ago, time will speak to its
unchanged. If the neurosurgery is successful, the
success. I thought it interesting, however, that the
patient should be able to wake up remembering
solution to fixing a “broken” body was to find a new body.
whatever memories he had before he went under the
The acquirement of a new body raises other
knife.
philosophical questions, specifically that of personhood.
Neuroscience itself also raises interesting points,
What constitutes a person? Over the centuries, there
specifically on the naturalism of personhood—making
have been many philosophers, such as John Locke or
personhood empirical and concrete, as opposed to
Derek Parfit, who tried to parse and define this complex
relying on complicated, fly-by-night philosophical
and delicate term. Is a person the body they’re born into?
concepts. Finding such empirical data might aid in
If so, why do we refer the deceased as “bodies,” but not
connecting personhood to specific criteria (Farah,
8
Interneuron . Volume 3, Issue 1 . November 2015
FEATURE Heberlein 2007). But then the question becomes: what
surgery, will he be a different person? Will he lose his
are those criteria? We start, obviously, with the brain.
personhood status altogether? More importantly, will
Locke has described the brain as crucial to personhood,
the surgery have been worth it? The article mentions
wherein it contains aspects like rationality and
that a head transplant of a rhesus monkey was
consciousness. The abortion debate is a popular
performed in 1970, only to have the monkey paralyzed
example to use when discussing when, exactly, one
from the neck down and dead within nine days, due to
becomes a person (Farah, Heberlein 2007). Are
the head’s rejection of the body (Lynn 2015). Was this
blastocysts and fetuses people? Do they have bodies?
achievement valuable to science as a whole? Yes, but
Minds? Souls? The attempt by pro-lifers is to naturalize
what about Spiridonov? What measures will be taken to
personhood through brain development. For example,
ensure he gets the best deal possible? Will he be able
the cerebral cortex—which later gives rise to
to enjoy his life as before, new person or not? We can
intelligence—develops early in reproduction: is its
only ponder those questions, holding them at the
inception when an entity starts to become a person? Yet
periphery of our strides, as we delve deeper into new
brain development is not a quick process; how can one
scientific realms, venturing further away from the shores
pick an arbitrary point in time? At the other end of the
of the definitive, and into the sea of possibility.
spectrum, does complete or partial loss of brain function
References
represent a loss of personhood status? (Farah,
Farah, M., & Heberlein, A. (2007). Personhood and Neuroscience:
Heberlein 2007). What of those in vegetative states, or those with dementia? Are they people? If Spiridonov suffers great brain damage during the
Naturalizing or Nihilating? The American
Journal
of
Bioethics,
7(1),
37-48.
doi:10.1080/15265160601064199 Lynn, A. (2015, September 12). The First Human Head Transplant Has Been Scheduled For 2017.
9 http://consciouslifenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/electric-thinking-cap.jpg
Mind of a Pedophile Eileen Liu
bances in the neurotransmission of dopamine— the hormone linked to sexual behaviour. If pedophilia is considered a psychiatric disorder, should we place pedophiles under medical attention, rather than behind cell bars? However, some question whether pedophilia should be classified as a mental illness. David Goldberg, author of the article “I, Pedophile”, suggests the condi-
Child. Rape. Abuse. What thoughts trigger our
tion as a sexual orientation, rather a mental illness. The
minds as we hear these words? Perhaps unpleasant
article focuses on the thoughts of a pedophile, who re-
images of aggressive male criminals lurking in the shad-
flects with bitterness and confusion following his arrest
ows, waiting to pounce on the next innocent victim. As
for purchasing child pornography films. He writes, “I had
a hovering threat in our society, controversies hold in
never asked to be cursed with this sexual attraction, and
how we should address these so-called “monsters”. Is
I had never hurt a child”. Most pedophiles express addic-
pedophilia considered a sexual orientation, or a psychi-
tive sexual interest in children, yet they do not actively
atric disorder? Should pedophiles be treated as crimi-
perform sexual abuse. Dr. James Cantor, an interna-
nals and put in the hands of authorities, or should they
tional expert on pedophilia and Associate Professor of
be confined to rehabilitation, treated as mentally dis-
Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, agrees that pe-
turbed patients? Furthermore, can medical treatment be
dophilia is a sexual orientation that is innate—one can-
performed without raising ethical concerns?
not choose whom they are sexually attracted to, though
Pedophilia is defined as the sexual attraction to
they could choose whether or not they act upon their
children, particularly prepubescent children. According
sexual urges. If so, would it be immoral to accuse one’s
to the fourth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical
actions based on his sexual orientation?
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), pedophilia is
There is currently no cure for pedophilia, although
characterized as a mental disorder in three conditions:
there have been attempts in psychotherapy. An original
(1) the offender expresses sexual fantasies or sexual
paper written by urologists in Italy suggests using An-
urges towards children 13 years old or younger; (2) ab-
drogen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) to treat pedophiles.
normal sexual behaviours lasting at least six months;
ADT involves using “chemical castrations”, also known
and (3) if the pedophile is at least 16 years old and five
as “testosterone antagonist pharmacological therapy”.
years older than the child. The cause of pedophilia may
A luteinizing hormone releasing-hormone (LHRH) ago-
include abnormalities in the frontal cortex and nucleus
nist—particularly leuprolide acetate, is a drug used in
accumbens of the brain, as evident from functional mag-
chemical castrations, which decreases levels of testos-
netic resonance imaging (fMRIs) and positron emission
terone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteiniz-
tomography (PET) scans. Damage to these areas of the
ing hormone (LH). Since these hormones play a crucial
brain hinders the pedophile’s ability in making decisions,
role in sexual development, altering their levels using
and is associated with addictive behaviour due to distur-
chemical castrations aid in reducing sexual urges and
10
Interneuron . Volume 3, Issue 1 . November 2015
fantasies, frequency of masturbation and pleasure, as well as erections.
treatment to pedophiles. Pedophilia, whether being considered as a sexual orientation or a psychiatric disorder, remains a puzzling phenomenon. There is little knowledge on the specific
...pedophilia is a sexual orientation that is innate - one cannot choose whom they are sexually attracted to...
cause of the condition, leading to a wide range of questions and uncertainties to prospective treatment. First of all, is pedophilia considered a sexual orientation or a mental illness? If a pedophile commits an offense due to his biological dysfunctions, is he defined as a criminal for
Chemical castrations have been tested on pedophile
his behavioral acts? In addition, if pedophilia is consid-
patients in the past, though legislation on chemical cas-
ered a psychiatric illness, should pharmacological treat-
trations varies internationally. For instance, medical
ment be made mandatory, against one’s will? Although
treatment in Italy is not enforced due to restrictions on
research has made great advances in finding ways to
personal freedom; while in Korea, chemical castrations
reduce sexual urges, what the future holds for pedophil-
are mandatory to sexual offenders. In other countries
ia patients still remains unclear.
such as Sweden, German and Denmark, treatment is a
References
voluntary request, and offenders who were able to make these requests were eligible to benefits such as shorter sentences. In Florida, USA, a pedophile who has committed a second offense will be confined to treatment by the court, and a medical team will dictate the suitability of treatment without informing the offender. With a wide variety of governing legislations on pharmacological
Pessimism about pedophilia - Harvard Health. (2010, July 1). Retrieved October 24, 2015, from http://www.health.harvard.edu/ newsletter_article/pessimism-about-pedophilia Cochran, M., & Cole, M. Inside the Mind of a Pedophile. Goldberg, D. (2013, August 26). I, Pedophile. Retrieved October 24, 2015. Dreger, A. (2013, August 26). What Can Be Done About Pedophilia? Retrieved October 24, 2015. Silvani, M., Mondaini, N., & Zucchi, A. (2015). Androgen
treatment, another question arises—should there be a
deprivation therapy (castration therapy) and pedophilia: What’s
law to enforce mandatory chemical castrations without
Silvani, M., Mondaini, N., & Zucchi, A. (2015). Androgen deprivation
a patient’s consent, even at the benefit of their condi-
therapy (castration therapy) and pedophilia: What’s new. Archivio Ital-
tion? Investing in pharmacological treatment may be an
new. Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia, 87(3), 222-223.
iano di Urologia e Andrologia, 87(3), 224.
effective and reliable source to treating pedophiles. However, to what extent may legislation impose on whether or not offenders have a say in treatment? On one hand, enforcing drugs on patients may be considered immoral; on the other hand, giving medical attention to patients seems to a beneficial and promising
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Interneuron . Volume 3, Issue 1 . November 2015
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Interneuron . Volume 3, Issue 1 . November 2015