J. Madeleine Nash

J. Madeleine Nash, the author of the following viewpoint, writes that scientific study of the human brain will yield unprecedented breakthroughs in such areas as computer technology and the treatment of mental illness, and will lead to an increased understanding of human consciousness. Nash is a senior correspondent for Time magazine.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Nash, what have neural networks accomplished?
2. What choices will would-be parents face in the future, according to Nash?
3. How will brain scanners help children, in the author’s opinion"

Contemplate for a moment a tangle of seaweed tossed up on the shore. This is what a neuron looks like, surrounded by a thicket of tiny tendrils that serve as communications channels. Now multiply that neuron 100 billion times. Crammed into the skull of every human...