The study of neuroethics intersects neuroscience and ethics. Neuroethics covers ethical problems raised by advances in functional neuroimaging, brain implants, brain-machine interfaces and psychopharmacology as well as by our growing understanding of the nerual bases of behaviour, personality, consciousness and states of spiritual transcendence.
The function of the brain is still largely mysterious, but on-going technological advances are working to shed light on previous uncertainties. Clinical neuroscientists are able to watch brain cells, or neurons, react to stimuli in real time and can alter irregular neurons by implanting stimulating electrodes.
However, with these advances come large philosophical questions. While the clinical advances with both diagnoses and treatment of neurological disease will likely remain unchallenged, other research is not so evidently beneficial. Efforts to use neuroscience to enhance memory and cognitive function in patients with no evident pathological need, or using neuroimaging to design the most effective marketing techniques are not so clearly worthwhile.
Specifically this NET focuses on the issues raised by neuroimaging modalities. Neuroimaging will likely challenge established conceptions of free will, consciousness, rational decision making and individuality (Illes et al. 2002). The breadth of issues raised by improved neuroimaging technology is impressive, including questions of unexpected findings in MRI studies -- where the rates of such findings are surprisingly high in control groups - to questions of who should be allowed to participate in research and what responsibilities the researchers have to the participants.
Compounding these legal and ethical issues are those associated with vulnerable populations such as children, especially those with developmental abnormalities. Unfortunately, because children are extremely vulnerable, conducting paediatric MRI research is more problematic, so less research is done, and the ability to interpret the limited data is hindered (Hinton 2002).
Neuroethicists have a great deal of work to accomplish, including identifying the key ethical issues and formulating regulations, policies and guidelines for all those involved with the advancement of neuroscience.
Further information on the Neuroethics NET projects can be found on this website under Project Summaries.
Hinton V. Ethics of neuroimaging in pediatric development. Brain Cogn 2002;50:455-468.
Illes J, Desmond JE, Huang LF, Raffin TA, Atlas SW. Ethical and practical considerations in managing incidental findings in functional magnetic resonance imaging. Brain Cogn 2002;50:358-365.
