Examine+one+study+related+to+localization+of+function+of+the+brain.

Background Information On This Experiment: The following study was conducted in the 1950's by Robert Heath and was published in a 1972 edition of //Journal of Behaviour Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry.//
 * Does the brain have localized functions?**

Case Study: What effects does electrically stimulating certain parts of the brain have on human emotion?

Aim: To determine if electrical stimulation on certain parts of the brain can be used as a depression treatment.

Procedure: Participants are equipped with shock nodes, which stimulate pleasure centers in the brain. These are activated at the touch of a button.

Findings: Patients who pushed the button received instant gratification. In fact, one patient, known as B-19, stimulated himself over 1500 times in three hours. He had to be disconnected as he was experiencing an overwhelming euphoria and elation.

Evaluation:

Practical relevance - this study has some practical relevance and can be applied to real life. As this experiment was carried out on humans, the biological validity is not a factor. This was quite possible a major breakthrough in depression treatment.

Ethical validity - Since B-19 was forcibly removed from the machine, there must have been a right to withdraw. One concern here is with the electricity its self. Electricity can cause great harm to people, but it was very carefully applied. No obvious deception was used, and it is safe to assume that there was a debriefing. Informed consent was most likely present, because the patients had to be hooked up to a machine. Also, the patient's names were not released, so confidentiality was maintained.

Ecological Validity - This study obviously occurred in a lab. In one's natural environment, there is not a button they can push to receive electrical stimulation to pleasure centers in their brain.

Conclusion: Overall, this experiment gave solid evidence that brain functions (in this case pleasure) are localized.

Patient receiving electroshock therapy

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