This is actually a fascinating topic, but the author has hardly
scratched the surface of the topic, simply asked a valid question,
which opens up a can or worms when you examine it more closely.

We know from people who have had parts of their brains damaged
by some accident and lived to tell the tale, that many rapidly
changed personality and behaviour. Clearly they do not do this
by choice, its just a question of differing brain function having
different outcomes.

I've been following the Charlie Rose "Brain" series on tv and one
specialist reported that when he treated Parkinsons patients with
dopamine level altering drugs, many became compulsive gamblers.

We don't yet fully understand how decisions are made in the brain,
but what is clear is that its more a bit like a parliament, with
many and varied inputs competing, rather then just the dictatorship
of so called free will.

Much is going on in the brain at the subconcious level. Inputs from
past memory and learning, hormones and other peptides, many regulated
by our genes, all have an input.

So to sum it up, perhaps we are far less free then we think that
we are.

So could Osama bin Laden for instance, become a good Catholic tomorrow?
In theory yes, but in practise all his neural wiring,
past experiences and other inputs would vote against it. So he's
really not as free to choose as he thinks he is.

Some discussion on the ABC some days ago about the effect of constant head impacts on the front of the head (eg in heavy contact sporting activities)and the possibility of behaviour change as a result of these impacts in the long term
Does this account for abberant behaviours in some of these sporting individuals?

Very interesting article.

So then is there a neuropsychological unit identified with what the psychologists call the ego - the chief executive, the one that actually chooses an action? Maybe the billions of cells in the body just have a little civil war over who gets to decide: "Me!" "No, it's me!" etc. One of them outshouts the others, and it's got nothing to do with the brain. Could be a leg, or a bit of bone marrow.

No? Well it's gotta have something to do with the brain, right? Some function, some identifiable cells, have got to make the decision on behalf of all the others. So do "they" know what it is, or not?

No-one has been able to bridge mind and matter: the connection between external events and human mental response to it remains elusive. But logically, in theory, it should be possible, right? But then could we identify the material preconditions to psychic phenomena, and human choices? That'll be the day.

It is very mysterious.

http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/11226?sponsor_id=1

There you go PH, the transcript section of this, might answer
some of your questions.

Don't worry about it Yabby, after may next year.. you know.

Another point is that studies have shown many people missing a chemical in their brain and/or suffered a chemical imbalance, are notorious 'liars' throughout their lives.

Medication is available for those sufferers when a family member or medical practitioner has picked up on the fact.