Example Essay - Neuroscience
‘Using the findings from neuroscience research can result in
doctors and psychologists making decisions about socially
sensitive issues in society, such as end of life, treating criminal
behaviour and other sensitive areas of study.’ Discuss the
evidence that suggests that these neuroscience findings need to
be treated with some caution (discuss evidence which supports
this view). [20]
Findings from neuroscience research have played a significant role in
advancing our understanding of the human brain, offering immense
potential benefits such as rehabilitation for patients with serious brain
injuries and treatments for neurological disorders. Nevertheless, this
research often delves into socially sensitive issues, including the
understanding of consciousness, biological treatments for criminal
behaviour, neuromarketing, and enhancement of neurological functioning.
These areas of inquiry present ethical and societal challenges, raising
questions about the extent to which such findings should be trusted or
applied without caution.
Note the clear introduction above – this introduction draws the
readers immediate attention to the question, and lays out the
focus of the answer – essentially you are answering the
question before going in to providing evidence to support what
you are going to discuss from this point onwards
Understanding Consciousness and End-of-Life Decisions (avoid
subheadings in your essay, these are here to clearly separate the content
and to help organise the structure of the essay)
Stating the point - Neuroscience research into consciousness has
uncovered intriguing results that have implications for end-of-life
decision-making.
Provide an example, where possible use research (try to include a brief
paragraph that outlines the aim of the research, the findings, conclusion
and what this means) - For instance, Crick and Koch (1998) conducted a
case study on a 54-year-old woman with severe epilepsy. They found that
stimulating the claustrum, a thin sheet of neurons in the brain, caused the
patient to stop reading and become unresponsive to external stimuli. This
led them to hypothesize that the claustrum is the seat of consciousness.
The application of such findings could potentially guide doctors in
determining whether to withdraw life support from patients in vegetative
states.
©caraleeedwards2025
‘Using the findings from neuroscience research can result in
doctors and psychologists making decisions about socially
sensitive issues in society, such as end of life, treating criminal
behaviour and other sensitive areas of study.’ Discuss the
evidence that suggests that these neuroscience findings need to
be treated with some caution (discuss evidence which supports
this view). [20]
Findings from neuroscience research have played a significant role in
advancing our understanding of the human brain, offering immense
potential benefits such as rehabilitation for patients with serious brain
injuries and treatments for neurological disorders. Nevertheless, this
research often delves into socially sensitive issues, including the
understanding of consciousness, biological treatments for criminal
behaviour, neuromarketing, and enhancement of neurological functioning.
These areas of inquiry present ethical and societal challenges, raising
questions about the extent to which such findings should be trusted or
applied without caution.
Note the clear introduction above – this introduction draws the
readers immediate attention to the question, and lays out the
focus of the answer – essentially you are answering the
question before going in to providing evidence to support what
you are going to discuss from this point onwards
Understanding Consciousness and End-of-Life Decisions (avoid
subheadings in your essay, these are here to clearly separate the content
and to help organise the structure of the essay)
Stating the point - Neuroscience research into consciousness has
uncovered intriguing results that have implications for end-of-life
decision-making.
Provide an example, where possible use research (try to include a brief
paragraph that outlines the aim of the research, the findings, conclusion
and what this means) - For instance, Crick and Koch (1998) conducted a
case study on a 54-year-old woman with severe epilepsy. They found that
stimulating the claustrum, a thin sheet of neurons in the brain, caused the
patient to stop reading and become unresponsive to external stimuli. This
led them to hypothesize that the claustrum is the seat of consciousness.
The application of such findings could potentially guide doctors in
determining whether to withdraw life support from patients in vegetative
states.
©caraleeedwards2025
