Sense Perception - Knowledge Issues

I recently listened to two film clips, one on a study of patients in a vegetative state at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8497148.stm and on synesthesia at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stwzvpnnlqA. 

Following are sample knowledge issues questions relating to the real-life situations - studies of patients in vegetative states and studies on people with synesthesia respectively.

• Studies of patients in vegetative states: What role does reason play in justifying ethical decisions? 
• Studies on people with synesthesia: To what extent can research in the natural sciences use mathematical techniques to analyze the data?