Do no harm: A neural and ethical analysis of actions and omissions in moral decision-making. (360G-Wellcome-104980_Z_14_Z)

£87,645

I will utilize a combination of experimental tools to investigate the neural mechanisms driving systematic decision patterns related to the heuristic to do no harm. I initially develop a laboratory model of moral decision-making, demonstrating a greater aversion to harmful actions relative to harmful omissions in decisions involving real harmful consequences to an anonymous other person. Next, healthy participants will perform the task in an fMRI scanner, where I will use the model to test compe ting hypotheses that asymmetries in harm aversion for actions vs. omissions result from either (i) impoverished neural representations of the consequences of omissions, or (ii) stronger negative representations of harmful actions. I will then investigate whether asymmetries between harmful actions and omissions can be modulated by the neurotransmitter serotonin using a commonly prescribed antidepressant drug. Finally, I will explore the ethical and policy implications of my research findings. Du ring this time, I plan to apply for the Wellcome Trust-POST Fellowship where I can engage with a parliamentary audience on intervention strategies for relevant public health issues. My research will culminate in a number of research papers and a final dissertation describing the empirical findings and their implications for policy and practice.

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Grant Details

Amount Awarded 87645
Applicant Surname Siegel
Approval Committee ERG10 Medical Humanities
Award Date 2014-05-14T00:00:00+00:00
Financial Year 2013/14
Grant Programme: Title PhD Studentship in H&SS
Internal ID 104980/Z/14/Z
Lead Applicant Miss Jenifer Siegel
Partnership Value 87645
Planned Dates: End Date 2017-09-30T00:00:00+00:00
Planned Dates: Start Date 2014-10-01T00:00:00+00:00
Recipient Org: Country United Kingdom
Region South East
Sponsor(s) Dr Molly Crockett