Was that Will really Free?

Not Shakespeare, mind you. We’re talking about the infamous Mr. Seung-Hui Cho. Stephanie noted in a comment that Sharon Begley had written very cogently (and generally in agreement with what I had written) about the origins of behavior that could result in something like the Virginia Tech massacre. Sharon Begley is a highly informed science writer who really understands the basic science of brain plasticity, and as a Wall Street Journal writer, has helped introduce the wider world to its principles. She is now directing the science writing agenda for Newsweek, and is publishing a new, important blog that you would probably enjoy reading (http://labnotes.talk.newsweek.com/default.asp?item=566491). In the April 30th issue of Newsweek, Begley’s article titled “Anatomy of a Murderer” is an excellent contribution to this subject. Sharon argues (and Stephanie agrees) that beyond genetics and bumps on the head and a probably-distorted human experiential history, there still resides our old pal Free Willie, who had the final say-so before Mr. Cho acted. Maybe so. But how/who IS this Ethical Monitor who lives within our skulls? How has SHE been trained? Gone to school a lot? Or is SHE uneducated and ignorant? Been taught by a cruel master? Or raised a man of the cloth? Nurtured, cherished, loved, encouraged, carrying ethical behavior to a Gothic level of refinement? Or neglected, unloved, tormented, discouraged, carrying ethical behavior to Gothic level of deba...
Source: On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Brain Fitness Brain Trauma, Injury BrainHQ Posit Science Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, et alia Source Type: blogs