September 18, 2026
Unifying consent standards for implantable brain-computer interfaces – Michael J. Young, Julian D. Sandbrink, Laura Y. Cabrera, Komal Kampasi, Philip Kennedy, Maryam Masood, Daniel B. Rubin, Lynn Brielmaier, Paul J. Ford, iBCI-CC Ethics, Neural Data Security, and Data Privacy Workgroup
In their article, the authors discuss the need for more comprehensive and consistent standards around informed consent for implantable brain-computer interfaces (iBCIs). While the promise and popularity of iBCIs in clinical practice grows, so do concerns regarding the nature of consent for devices that combine invasive neurosurgery, continuous neural data capture, adaptive machine-learning-based decoding, software dependence, and evolving device functionality. The authors propose a framework for implementing and a checklist for creating extensive protocols for obtaining patient consent around iBCIs that address ethical issues and concerns from pre-implementation to post-implementation.
Drowning in Plausible Nonsense: Should We Implement AI Prechecks for Hallucinations and Misconduct in Editorial Processes? – Diego Borbón (Science Editor)
In his essay, Diego Borbón argues for the use of generative AI and automatic pre-peer review checks to address inaccurate claims, references, and citations found in AI-generated publication content. Borbón introduces the concept of asymmetrical negligence in publishing: the less conscious effort that authors put into developing publications with AI, the more conscious effort that is required by their associates — such as editors and peer reviewers — to evaluate and verify the publication. The article also addresses the feasibility of AI prechecks, their role in editorial decision-making, the threats AI-generated misinformation poses to scientific integrity, and the need for responsible implementation of these tools.
Neuroimaging and the Law: Toward a “Neuro-Daubert” Evidentiary Framework for Cognitive Evidence – Sydney Freshwater (Oklahoma City University Law Review)
The Consent Paradox: Safeguarding Cognitive Liberty in the Era of Consumer Brain-Computer Interfaces – Pratistha Mishra (Law, Brain & Behavior eJournal)
Young minds in distress: Exploring the global rise in youth mental health diagnoses – Huey-Ling Chiang, Yi-Ling Chien, Susan Shur-Fen Gau (Molecular Psychiatry)
Lawmakers urge Congress to act after AI researcher’s dire warning – Kelsey Brugger and Riley Rogerson (Politico)
Scientists could soon be able to erase memories — but should they? – Luciana Bellini (The Standard)
Why some experts increasingly fear AI will take over – Joe Tidy (BBC)
September 3, 2026
Neurotechnological Natives and the Neurotechnology Shift: A Research Agenda for the Brain-as-Interface Era – José M. Muñoz (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences)
In his article, José M. Muñoz describes the growing view and treatment of the brain as an interface between human biology and neurotechnology. This shift, Muñoz contends, is giving rise to a sociocultural phenomenon he terms “neurotechnology natives” — individuals whose cognitive and social development is shaped by daily interaction with neurotechnology. Muñoz goes on to explore the broader social, ethical, and cultural implications of this shift, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary research to understand how neurotechnology may reshape human identity, cognition, social interaction, and society as a whole.
Can I Get a Witness? The Ethical Dimensions of Family Presence in Patient Suffering – Jennifer Blumenthal-Barby, Trevor M. Bibler, Holland Kaplan, Adam Omelianchuk, Joanna Smolenski (Hastings Center Report)
In their article, the authors examine the debate surrounding the moral value and necessity of family presence during patient suffering, particularly in cases involving minimally conscious or unconscious patients. Addressing a dilemma that has long challenged clinicians, they consider how family presence can provide comfort and allow loved ones to bear witness to a patient’s suffering, while also better informing them when making decisions as surrogates. The article further explores the moral responsibility of family members to share in a patient’s suffering and the potential for their presence to alleviate some of the mental and emotional burden that can be placed on clinical teams when family members are not present.
How tech-enhanced sleep could improve rest but erode privacy – Brian D. Earp, Sebastian Porsdam Mann, Effy Vayena (Nature)
Researchers are building computers that run on brain organoids — but have neglected a major ethical issue – Nada S. Salem, Jianping Fu, Feng Guo, Jonathan Kadmon, Omer Revah, Orly Reiner, Insoo Hyun (Nature)
Ethics and AI Use in Medical Practice: American College of Physicians Releases Position Statement – Jessica Walters (Psychiatric Times)
Ethics and Professionalism in Artificial Intelligence and Medical Practice: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians – Matthew DeCamp, Lois Snyder Sulmasy, Kyle E. Karches (Annals of Internal Medicine)
Redefining underrepresentation in global neuroscience – Keerthana Iyer, Arish Mudra Rakshasa-Loots, Ana Silva, Violetta Zujovic (The Transmitter)
Scientific talent is global. Access to the world’s scientific stage is not. – Vicente Medel (The Transmitter)
August 7, 2026
The Illusion of Distinction in ‘Neural Data’ Governance: Rethinking United States Consumer Data Protections Through a European Lens
Members of the Neural Interfaces Affinity Group wrote an article published in Neuroethics titled ‘The Illusion of Distinction in ‘Neural Data’ Governance: Rethinking United States Consumer Data Protections Through a European Lens.’ Authors included: Nicole Chiappone, Diana Urian, Leili Soo, Chanel Matney, Julie Moonga, Francisco Rosero-Villarreal, Talha Soluoku, JuanMartin Abreu-Melon and Nathan Higgins. The abstract concludes with: “While establishing a universal definition of ‘neural data’ is conceptually appealing, we argue that it should not distract from the broader issues that give rise to the need for such a definition in the first place. Ultimately, our research suggests that policymakers may be better served by regulating the outcomes of data use rather than focusing exclusively on the data’s origin. Such an approach could better address the tension between promoting innovation, protecting individual rights, and ensuring product safety.” Web / PDF
Advancing data protections for implantable brain-computer interfaces – Julian D. Sandbrink, Michael J. Young (Communications Medicine)
In this review article, Julian Sandbrink and Michael Young address five critical gaps in existing data protection practices related to the neural health data produced by implantable brain-computer interfaces (iBCIs). The authors identify — , as current issues with existing data protections — , the inefficacy of current de-identification practices, the integrity of the consent process for iBCIs, risks for misuse, the lack of clarity around ownership of the data, and the potential for monetization. They discuss the need for ongoing research, persistent community efforts, and regulatory support to help address these challenges and protect autonomy and privacy.
From trade-offs to translation: An interdisciplinary roadmap for neurotechnology – Ruben Ruiz-Mateos Serrano, Joe G. Troughton, Nima Mirkhani, Natalia Martínez, Massimo Mariello, Jordan Tsigarides, Simon Williamson, Juan Sapriza, Ioana Susnoschi Luca, Antonio Dominguez-Alfaro, Estelle Cuttaz, Nicole Thompson, Sydney Swedick, Latifah Almulla, and Amparo Güemes (Science Advances)
Regulating Next-Generation Implantable Brain-Computer Interfaces: Recommendations for Ethical Development and Implementation – Renée A. Sirbu, Jessica Morley, Tyler Schroder, Raghavendra Pradyumna Pothukuchi, Muhammed Ugur, Abhishek Bhattacharjee, and Luciano Floridi (Neuroethics)
The Neuro Revolution Is Dawning. Are We Ready? – Catherine Barzler (Georgia Tech Research News Center)
EU rules on AI models become enforceable. What’s going to change? – Luca Bertuzzi (Euronews)
Who Actually Owns Your Thoughts in the Age of Neuroscience? – Magnus Wijkander (The Collector)
Hack “Writers” Fuming After ChatGPT Starts Refusing Prompts to Copy a Specific Author’s Style – Frank Landymore (Futurism)
July 17, 2026
Implantable Neuromodulation Devices in Psychiatry: Human Fidelity and Implementation Challenges – Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz, Amanda R. Merner (The American Journal of Psychiatry)
In their article, the authors discuss the rapid development and growth of brain-based implantable neuromodulation devices (INDs), and their adoption for psychiatric conditions. As research and support for INDs continues to increase, the need for their responsible and ethical implementation increases as well. To support this need, the authors propose human fidelity as an evidence-based approach during development. This concept centers the perspective of affected parties and the consequences they would face within the process of developing and disseminating INDs now and in the future.
Opening and Widening New Horizons for a Cross-Cultural Approach in Neuroethics – Tamami Fukushi (AJOB Neuroscience)
“The Brain-Computer Interface is Changing Me”: The Psychological Trajectory of Becoming More-Than-Human with a Brain Implant – Frederic Gilbert, Ian Burkhart, Jake Morrill (Neuroethics)
Ethical Considerations Toward Harmonizing Human and Machine Agency in Embodied Neurotechnologies – Nicolas Berberich, Gordon Cheng, James Giordano (Neuroethics)
Mind, machine, and the law: reimagining neurotechnology governance through disability rights – Francisco Bariffi (Journal of Law and the Biosciences)
“You Read My Mind”: Neural Data And The New Wave Of Biometric Privacy Protections – Alessandro R Colangelo, Roy Wyman, Alex Davenport (HR Magazine)
On AI Ethics: Why Prompt Engineering Needs a Moral Compass – Dan Lohrmann (Government Technology)
June 25, 2026
Towards a Global Neuroethics: Developing standards to address one of the world’s most revolutionizing sectors must become a priority – Roland Benedikter (UNESCO)
In this UNESCO Idea article, Dr. Roland Benedikter explores the ever-evolving landscape of neurotechnology and the concurrent need to balance its social and economic gains with the ethical considerations of human progress. Dr. Benedikter discusses the concepts of human capacity, human creativity, and the impact of neurotechnological developments on cultural phenomena of the future.
Cognitive Liberty and the Return of Individual Research Results from Observational Neurodegeneration Studies: A Narrative Review – Deven K. Burks, Jane S. Paulsen (Neuroethics)
To Be, or Not to Be Exceptional: That Is the Question in Psychedelic Ethics – Daniel Villiger (Neuroethics)
How will AI make moral decisions for you and me? – Tim Vernimmen (Knowable Magazine)
Every neuroscience lab needs an ethicist – Timothy E. Brown (The Transmiter; Photo credit: Illustration by Maria Corte)
June 5, 2026
Mapping the Moral Brain: Probing the Architecture of Ethical Decision-Making with TMS –
Beyond Brain Data: An Enactive Approach to Brain-Computer Interface-Mediated Mind Reading and Mental Privacy – Fangxu Han & Haidan Chen (Neuroethics)
AI Algorithmic Bias, Neurodiscrimination, and Neurorights: Towards Conceptual Clarity in NeuroAI – Miranda Qianyu Wang (Neuroethics)
Plagiarism of ideas in the age of generative artificial intelligence – David Resnik and Mohammad Hosseini (Nature Machine Intelligence)
Neuroscientific Discoveries and the Reconstruction of Legal Culpability: How Brain-Based Evidence Challenges Traditional Models of Criminal Responsibility – Sergio Pommier Gallo (Law, Brain, and Behavior eJournal)
The Future of Mental Health Is Mental Wealth – Isaiah Pickens (Psychology Today)
Americans echo Pope Leo’s concerns about AI: ‘It threatens workers, privacy and human life’ – Maya Yang (The Guardian)
New Bioethics Project Is Ready to Mediate End-of-Life Conflicts – ALM Staff (Law.com)
More than 60% people use AI for mental health support — but many are unhappy with it, survey finds – Marta Iraola Iribarren (Euronews)
May 15, 2026
Advancing neurotech justice in youth digital mental health: insights from an interdisciplinary and cross-generational workshop – Craig W. McFarland, Donnella S. Comeau, Sepideh Abdi, Mahsa Alborzi Avanaki, Leo Anthony Celi, Neurotech Justice Workshop Participants, Francis X. Shen, Benjamin C. Silverman (NPP—Digital Psychiatry and Neuroscience)
Psychedelic therapy and cultural humility – Alex Gearin, Jennifer Docherty, Xiaofan Sun, Emmanuel Hei-Lok Cheung, Peter Tanuseputro (Translational Psychiatry)
Beyond Western Psychiatry: Rethinking Global Mental Health – Richard Sears (Mad in America)
Tech is turning increasingly to religion in quest to create ethical AI – Krysta Fauria (Japan Today)
Transforming artificial intelligence into artificial wisdom – Dilip V. Jeste, Martin P. Paulus, George S. Alexopoulos, Marcel Barnard, Willem M. Otte, Yuto Satake, Peter Jongho Na, John Torous, Ante Prodan, Jo-An Occhipinti (Nature Mental Health)
AI errors in US murder case lead to discipline for Georgia prosecutor – Mike Scarcella (Reuters)
Can AI Understand Us Without Consciousness? – Darren J. Edwards (Psychology Today)
April 23, 2026
Consciousness and Controlled Donation After Circulatory Determination of Death – Michael J. Young and Christof Koch (JAMA)
From fMRI to Family Meeting: Clinician and Family Perspectives on Neurotechnology-Informed Shared Decision-Making in Disorders of Consciousness – Twisha Bhardwaj, Brian L. Edlow, and Michael J. Young (Neurocritical Care)
Neurotechnological cognitive enhancement and human rights: a complex dynamic between empowerment and constraint – Timo Istace and Kristof Van Assche (Journal of Law and the Biosciences)
AI screening in brain organoids uncovers two drug candidates for Leigh syndrome – Anne Wansing (Medical Xpress)
Is It Time for a (More) Comparative Neuroethics? (And What Might That Look Like?) – Irina Mikhalevich (AJOB Neuroscience)
Why We Need Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) in Neuroethics – Michelle T. Pham, Arynn de Leeuw, Ian Burkhart, Eran Klein, Sara Goering (Neuroethics)
Psychedelics Are Still Not Ethically Exceptional: Rebutting Recent Claims of Uniqueness – Brian D. Earp, Katherine Cheung, David B. Yaden (Neuroethics)
April 3, 2026
Ethical Challenges of Deep Brain Stimulation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Evidence Gaps and Cultural Sensitivities – Junjie Yang (Neuroethics)
The Neuroscience of Brain Injury in Criminal Cases: An International Scope – Deborah W Denno (Neuroscience in Criminal Justice Systems: The Positive Impact of Neurojustice)
To Use Your Brain, First Accept The Terms And Conditions: Legal Protections For Commercial Brain-Computer Interfaces – Mathew Yaeger (Colorado Technology Law Journal)
Metaphysical Accounts of Personhood and Their Ethical Implications for the Vegetative State A Comparative Analysis – Federico Zilio (Phenomenology and Mind)
Addressing Incidental Findings in Neuroimaging Studies: Never Easy, Rarely Rescue – Hayden P. Nix (Ethics and Human Research)
Who Owns Digital Thoughts? The Limits of Property Law and the 2025 UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnology – Bo Hyoung Lee (Stanford Law School Law and Biosciences Blog)
AI, Informed Consent, and Fallacious Reasoning – Seamus Donahue (Bioethics Today)
March 13, 2026
6G and Embodied AI: Benefits and Risks of Increasingly Extended Minds – Mirko Farina, Andrea Lavazza (Neuroethics)
My Heart Can Change, But My Brain Cannot: Dualistic and Essentialist Beliefs Relate to Student Attitudes Towards Mental Health Interventions – Stefanie R. Russman Block, Hans S. Schroder, Christopher T. Webster, Annalise M. Perricone, Jason S. Moser (Neuroethics)
Neurotechnological cognitive enhancement and human rights: a complex dynamic between empowerment and constraint – Timo Istace and Kristof Van Assche (Journal of Law and the Biosciences)
AI company Anthropic sues Trump administration seeking to undo ‘supply chain risk’ designation – Matt O’Brien (Associated Press)
A call to join a collective effort on AI evaluation – Irving Torres, The Evals-Consensus.AI Consortium (Patterns)
200,000 Lab-Grown Human Brain Cells Can Now Play Video Games – Abdul Wasay (TechJuice)
Why AI’s Next Breakthrough Must Be Rooted In Ethics And Safety – Kate Wieczorek (Forbes)
February 13, 2026
New Article on BCI Design Transparency
Federico Zilio recently wrote a commentary article titled, “A Multi-Criteria Framework for Transparency in the Design and Use of Brain-Computer Interfaces” recently published in AJOB Neuroscience. The response discusses how the concept of transparency can functionally replace the concept of naturalness within the design and development of BCIs for disabled people. While the original article by Bouke van Balen discusses the need for this shift to occur, Zilio proposes five criteria that can be used to turn the concept of transparency into an operational framework guiding BCI design. Read the commentary to explore how meditation, automaticity, ergonomics, incorporation, and extended bodily awareness can be used as measures of transparency in BCI development.
Genetic Data From Over 20,000 U.S. Children Misused for ‘Race Science’ – Mike McIntire (The New York Times)
Neurodiplomacy: Global leaders convene at the UNESCO House to advance brain health as a 21st-century priority – Agustin Ibanez, Alfred K. Njamnshi (IBI News)
Using chatbots for therapy? A Brown study says you should be concerned. – Johnny Williams (The Providence Journal)
When Are Psychiatric Patients Considered Less Credible? Implications for the Epistemic Injustice Debate – Carme Isern-Mas, Ivar R. Hannikainen (Neuroethics)
Justice, Nonmaleficence, and Autonomy: Neuroethical Considerations of Non-Medical Cannabis Use by Epilepsy Neurosurgical Candidates – Bryce P Mulligan (N
Losing Introspective Authority: How Brain-Decoding Technology Will Confront Us with the Contents of Our Own Minds – Lukas J. Meier (Neuroethics)
When the action is “hybrid”–ethical challenges of the emerging technologies in the operating room – (Nature)
January 22, 2026
Bioethics Highlighted Topic from NIH Grants & Funding
The NIH recently published a new Highlighted Topic: Strengthening Biomedical Research, Promoting Trust, and Improving Health through Bioethics Research. The topic provides details about a new initiative by the Centers, Offices, and Institutes at the NIH to better emphasize and integrate bioethical principles across their biomedical and behavioral research projects. The initiative aims to advance bioethics research projects that are actionable, build trust, and better engage in bioethical principles across fields, including: AI, research engagement, informed consent, return of research results, and more. You can also visit the NIH Grants website to learn more about highlighted topics.
Neurotechnologies, Democracies, and Government Access to Brain Data – DeBrae Kennedy-Mayo (Privacy and Democracy)
Reimagining criminal accountability: microbial and omics perspectives in the evolution of legal responsibility – Pragya Mishra, Alan C Logan, Susan L Prescott (Journal of Law and the Biosciences)
The Right to Concentrate – Kaisa Kärki, Visa Kurki (Neuroethics)
When Pain Medicine is Scarce, Don’t Ignore the Problem: Considerations in the Ethical Allocation of Scarce Opioids – Parker Crutchfield, Casey Chmura, Abram Brummett (Neuroethics)
To Live or Not to Live? The Effect of Mind Perception and Judgment Strategies on Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions for Patients in Persistent Vegetative States – Idit Shalev, Erez Yaakobi (Neuroethics)
Ethical Questions Healthcare Leaders Should Be Asking About AI – Basile Njei (Forbes)
Human Agency Under Predictive Insight: Neuroethical Guidance of Behavioral AI – Elise Annett, James Giordano (Medium)
December 19, 2025
Artificial intelligence and the future of consciousness science: ethical and policy reflections
Marcello Ienca, Joseph J. Fins, Debra JH Mathews. Policy Labs, Frontiers (2025).
Marcello Ienca, Joseph J. Fins, and Debra JH Mathews wrote a policy outlook article titled ‘Artificial intelligence and the future of consciousness science: ethical and policy reflections’ for Frontiers Policy Labs. In the article, the authors “highlight four key areas of policy action needed to inform the intersection of AI with consciousness science: (i) comprehensive regulatory and ethical guidelines for AI utilized in clinical consciousness assessment; (ii) international research standards and ethics frameworks for synthetic consciousness; (iii) robust data governance to ensure neuroprivacy; and (iv) bias-mitigation strategies to promote global equity.”
The Executive Editor of Frontiers in Science reached out to INS leadership about a new article hub that they were developing focused on critical advances in consciousness science, which was to include some of the leading figures in the science and philosophy of consciousness. The editor reached out to the INS about contributing a policy outlook article on the convergence of AI and consciousness science, because they said, “the INS would be an ideal contributor given [its] mission of advancing dialogue at the nexus of brain sciences and technology.”
While the authors wrote in their individual academic capacities, they felt it was important to take advantage of this opportunity to showcase the INS and call for the involvement of organizations like the INS in global, interdisciplinary, and “forward-looking governance to address the evolving challenges at the intersection of consciousness and AI.”
Brain-Reading Technologies and the Right Against Self-Incrimination: A Challenge for the Distinction Between Testimonial and Real Evidence – Javier Escobar Veas (German Law Journal)
It’s (Not) Just Semantics: “Neurotechnology” as a Novel Space of Transnational Law – Walter G. Johnson (Law and Social Inquiry)
Mini brains, big questions: science is racing ahead of ethics – James Poulter (The Statesmen)
AI De-Skilling: Will Chatbot Use Corrode Our Humanness? – Patrick L. Plaisance (Psychology Today)
Generative AI Mental Health Chatbots as Therapeutic Tools: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Their Role in Reducing Mental Health Issues – Qiyang Zhang, Renwen Zhang, Yiying Xiong, Yuan Sui, Chang Tong, Fu-Hung Lin (Journal of Medical Internet Research)
When Pain Medicine is Scarce, Don’t Ignore the Problem: Considerations in the Ethical Allocation of Scarce Opioids – Parker Crutchfield, Casey Chmura & Abram Brummett (Neuroethics)
Race, Well-Being, and (Enhancements of) Cognition – Ian Shane Peebles (Neuroethics)
A Double-Edged Sword: Ethical and Psychological Implications of APOE Genotype Disclosure Across the Lifespan – Diego Iacono (Neuroethics)
November 25, 2025
The need for a global effort to attend to human neural organoid and assembloid research
Sergiu P. Pașca, Paola Arlotta, Philip Campbell, Alta Charo, John H. Evans, Nita Farahany, Fred H. Gage, Peter Godfrey-Smith, Insoo Hyun, Arnold R. Kriegstein, Lucia Melloni, Guo-Li Ming, Jonathan D. Moreno, Jeremy Sugarman, Sally Temple, Giuseppe Testa, Henry T. Greely (Science)
In a recent article titled, “The need for a global effort to attend to human neural organoid and assembloid research,” Sergiu P. Pașca and co-authors discuss the imminent ethical concerns around human organoid research. They bring to attention four major areas of ethical debate surrounding current and future developments in the field: the welfare and potential consciousness of the organoids and assembloids themselves, the transplantation of organoids into research animals, the consent of stem cell donors in the development of organoids, and the application of these organoids beyond the typical research setting. While exploring ethical questions associated with each of these areas, the authors emphasize the need for an international process with either existing or new organizations dedicated to keeping up with the fast-paced expansion and potential applications of neural organoid research. See the full policy forum article published in Science.
Participant Engagement, Epistemic Injustice, and Early-Phase Implanted Neural Device Research
Lilyana Levy, Ashley Feinsinger (Hastings Center Report)
Authors Lilyana Levy and Ashley Feinsinger analyze the inconsistencies in reporting insights collected from participants involved in early-phase neural implant device testing in a recent Hastings Center Report. The authors recognize that current research design and methodologies lend themselves to creating “epistemic injustice,” a phenomenon that occurs when participants’ insights may not directly lend themselves to changes within or influencing the research being conducted. Due to the broad and evolving nature of research — particularly within neural implants — they contend that participants’ input in its current form is not being used meaningfully if it doesn’t directly relate to the direction of research. In order to resist this type of injustice as research continues, Levy and Feinsinger urge that the methods involved in participant engagement must become more robust in order to resist this injustice, allowing for participant input to be incorporated with purpose and considered wholly important.
Forty Years in the Making: From Nihilism Towards a Therapeutic Neuroethics for Disorders of Consciousness
Joseph J. Fins (The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation)
In this retrospective essay celebrating the 40th anniversary of the journal, Dr. Fins traces the evolution of the neuroethics of disorders of consciousness through autobiographical reflections over the past four decades.
The Psychological Risks of BCI-LLM Cognitive “Enhancement” – John Tuskey (Neuroethics)
“Am I locked-in?” Illness Trajectories, Medical Terminology, and the Experience of the Locked-in State in Japan and Europe – Yukiko Himeno, Lina Masana, Tatsuya Mima, Fernando Vidal (Neuroethics)
Generative AI-assisted clinical interviewing of mental health – Sverker Sikström, Rebecca Astrid Boehme, Mariam Mirström, Thibaud Agbotsoka, Gergő Győri, Marta Lasota, Mona Tabesh, Lotta Stille, Danilo Garcia (Nature)
Deep Brain Stimulation Shows Promise Treating Depression – U.S News & World Report
Why Your AI Therapist Might Be Doing More Harm Than Good – Kevin Stacey (SciTechDaily)
Lab-grown models of human brains are advancing rapidly. Can ethics keep pace? – Mitch Leslie (Science)
November 7, 2025
Conflicting Interests and New Frontiers: A Role for Virtue Ethics in Cutting Edge Brain Research with Humans
Ally Peabody Smith, Lilyana Levy, Colleen Hanson, Nader Pouratian, Ashley Feinsinger
Neuroethics literature often explores the ethical conditions surrounding patients, caregivers, and the general public, however this article discusses the unique position and perspectives of scientific researchers facing ethical challenges in brain research. Through a series of interviews and analyses, the authors aim to understand the ethical struggles researchers face and propose solutions to mitigate these struggles.
UBC researchers propose no-fault compensation for high-risk neural devices
Elita Menezes (The Ubessey)
This article provides an introduction to the first non-U.S. clinical trial for a BCI implant, alongside a liability framework for such high-risk BCIs proposed by researchers at Neuroethics Canada. The framework’s lead author, Ari Rotenberg, is quoted throughout the article and the article concludes with a cautionary note: “Science and innovation … don’t exist in a vacuum. And I think we need to be conscious about the levers and the incentives that drive this larger structure, not individual products or research programs.”
The need for a global effort to attend to human neural organoid and assembloid research – Authors.. Sergiu P. Pașca, Paola Arlotta, Philip Campbell, Alta Charo, John H. Evans, Nita Farahany, Fred H. Gage, Peter Godfrey-Smith, Insoo Hyun, Arnold R. Kriegstein, Lucia Melloni, Guo-Li Ming, Jonathan D. Moreno, Jeremy Sugarman, Sally Temple, Giuseppe Testa, and Henry T. Greely (Science)
As brain organoids grow increasingly complex, leading scientists and bioethicists call for global oversight – Megan Molteni (STAT News)
Legal personhood and legal capacity: the case of the locked-in syndrome – Fernando Vidal (Journal of Law and the Biosciences)
It’s Easier to Cheat When You Can Blame AI – Lisa Ward (The Wall Street Journal)
Generative AI-assisted clinical interviewing of mental health – Sverker Sikström, Rebecca Astrid Boehme, Mariam Mirström, Thibaud Agbotsoka, Gergő Győri, Marta Lasota, Mona Tabesh, Lotta Stille, Danilo Garcia
Don’t be fooled. AI is only as ‘human’ as it is trained to be – Ryan Burns (The Seattle Times)
October 17, 2025
A Moratorium on Implantable Non-Medical Neurotech Until Effects on the Mind are Properly Understood – Christoph Bublitz, Jennifer A. Chandler, Fruzsina Molnár-Gábor, Marta Sosa Navarro, Philipp Kellmeyer, Surjo R. Soekadar (Neuroethics)
To Explant or not to Explant Neural Implants: an Empirical Study into Deliberations of Dutch Research Ethics Committees – Katherine Bassil, Karin Jongsma (Neuroethics)
Transformations, Tensions, and Transgressions: Neuroethical Reflections on Psychedelic Therapies – John Gardner, Michaela Barber, Adrian Carter (Neuroethics)
Does brain-computer interface-based mind reading threaten mental privacy? ethical reflections from interviews with Chinese experts – Fangxu Han, Haidan Chen (BMC Medical Ethics)
Medical Morality vs Chatbot Morality – Allen Frances, Charles F. Reynolds, George Alexopoulos (Psychiatric Times)
What Is Death? When It Comes to the Dead Donor Rule, Maybe There’s No Good Option – Joseph M. Vukov (Public Discourse)
Can a marker approach exclude? – Jonah Branding (Springer Biology & Philosophy)
Decoding the Brain, Respecting the Person: A Neuroethical Inquiry into Consent and Cognitive Liberty in South Africa – Marietjie Botes, Melodie Labuschaigne, Camille Casteleyn, Becky Inkster, Mark Sheppard (Neuroethics)
Computational and ethical considerations for using large language models in psychotherapy – Renwen Zhang, Han Meng, Marion Neubronner, Yi-Chieh Lee (Nature Computational Science)
September 25, 2025
In a recently published commentary article titled, “Convergence of neurodegeneration and the arts: a conversation between researchers about stigma, co-creativity, and transformation,” authors Naila Kuhlmann, Pia Kontos, Maria Bee Christensen-Strynø and Stefanie Blain-Moraes compile qualitative research and experimental knowledge to convey the power of art in creating an inclusive society for those with neurological conditions. The article serves as an extension of the group’s panel discussion at the Neuroethics 2024 conference in Baltimore which explored the special position of the arts to influence social change and to change the stigmas around people with Parkinson’s disease and dementia.
Addressing the Problem of Brain Death Misdiagnosis – Marjorie Fitzsimmons, Katherine Drabiak, Prithvi Shetty (Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics)
Will We Care For or Kill Dementia Patients? – Wesley J. Smith (Science and Culture Today)
Damage and Restoration of Personal Identity in Deep Brain Stimulation: A Relational Perspective – Y. Yang & J. Zhou (Neuroethics)
A Systematic Review on Pediatric Neurological Devices: Ethical, Regulatory, and Technical Considerations – Manan Grover, Mansi Sharma, Vikesh Kumar Shukla, Sheffali Gulati, Krishnajit Malakar, and Navneet Sharma (Neuroethics)
Delegation to artificial intelligence can increase dishonest behaviour – Nils Köbis, Zoe Rahwan, Raluca Rilla, Bramantyo Ibrahim Supriyatno, Clara Bersch, Tamer Ajaj, Jean-François Bonnefon and Iyad Rahwan (Nature)
Promising Study Links Brain-Stimulation Wearable to Reduced Depression – Courtney Rehfeldt (Athletech News)
Emotionally Adaptive Support: A Narrative Review of Affective Computing for Mental Health – Michelle Schlicher, Yupei Li, Sunil Munthumoduku, Krishna Murthy, Qiyang Sun, Björn W. Schuller (Frontiers in Digital Health)
Who really owns your thoughts? The future of neuroethics – Vidya Adlakha (The Daily Mississippian)
July 18, 2025
Are Technology and the Law on the Same “Wavelength”?: Examining the New Frontier of Brainwaves and Data Privacy – John G. Browning (North Carolina Journal of Law & Technology)
Not Demented Enough: Dementia and Competency to Stand Trial – Rashmi Goel (Nevada Law Journal)
Growing Pains: The Evolution of JLWOP Sentences in Washington – Selena M. Galvan (Washington Law Review)
American Medical Association Adopts Landmark Policy on Neural Data Privacy – Cooley Alert
Legal issues at the edge: Neural privacy – Cooley Resources
June 27, 2025
Ethical Challenges of Human-Machine Symbiosis in Brain-Computer Interfaces: Insights from Chinese Experts – Leqian Wu and Haidan Chen (Neuroethics)
Open-access revolution is squeezing scientific societies’ budgets, survey shows – Jeffrey Brainard (Science)
Music and meaning: What do AI conductors do to our understanding of human artistry? – Annabelle Stewart (ABC)
Gen Z wants to be part of the solution when it comes to mental health – Zeinab Hijazi (World Economic Forum)
The Global A.I. Divide: Where A.I. Data Centers are Located – Adam Satariano and Paul Mozur (The New York Times)
June 5, 2025
Exploring disparities in self-reported knowledge about neurotechnology – In this study, researchers aim to assess people’s self-reported knowledge on the awareness and use of neurotechnology. Results show disparities in knowledge based on prior use, health literacy, gender, age, and occupation. – Sebastian Sattler, Guido Mehlkop, Alexander Neuhaus, Anna Wexler, and Peter B. Reiner (Nature)
Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility: A Uniform Legal Age of Culpability That Matches Psychological Findings – Livia O’Connor (Suffolk University Transnational Law Review)
Neurotechnology Works Its Way Forward – Jeremy Ben Merkelson, Wendy Kearns, David Rice, Elyse Sparks (Seattle University Law Review)
Human-Animal Chimeras: An Omen for Disaster or an Answer to Our Prayers? – Catherine A. Zimmermann (St. John’s University Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development)
Developmental Neurobiology and Miller v. Alabama: To What Extent Do Juvenile Brains Change? – Christos D. Strubakos (Cleveland State Law Review)
Reason and responsibility as a path toward ethical AI for (global) public health – Esther-Maria Antao, Aadil Rasheed, Anatol-Fiete Näher, Lothar H. Wieler (Nature)
Pregnancy, Brain Death, and the Right to Choose: Lessons from the Adriana Smith Case – Sophie Schott, Faith Fletcher, Claire I. Horner, Virginia A. Brown (Hastings Center)
Neuroethics and the Future of the Animal Rights Movement – Anoutia Allymohamed (Technology Networks)
What Do We Owe Our AI Assistants? – Justin Garson (Psychology Today)
The Science Of Storytelling: How Neuromarketing Builds Emotional Loyalty – Janita Pannu
May 15, 2025
New recommendations for regulating neurotechnology in Canada include protecting Indigenous rights – “The finalized version of the UNESCO ethics recommendation for neurotechnology will be negotiated during the week of May 12. This will prepare the way for its formal adoption this fall by the 194 member states.” – Judy Illes, Bartha Knoppers, Jennifer Chandler, Ross Upshur, Vardit Ravitsky (The Conversation)
Integrating Human Augmentation in the Defence Sphere: an Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study on Ethical Principles – Marina Miron, Sebastian Sattler, David Whetham, Margaux Auzanneau, Simon E. Kolstoe (Neuroethics)
Cognitive and Moral Enhancement: A Different Practical Proposal – Louis Austin-Eames (Neuroethics)
Confining Rights: The Neuroscientific Challenge to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Under the Eighth Amendment – Alex Mastorides (Minnesota Journal of Law, Science, and Technology)
Law & Neuroscience: The Case of Solitary Confinement – Jules Lobel and Huda Akil (Daedalus)
Neurotechnology Works Its Way Forward – Jeremy Ben Merkelson, Wendy Kearns, David Rice, Elyse Sparks (Seattle University Law Review)
The neurotechnology patent landscape in a time of neuroethics – In a study aimed at supporting the responsible proliferation of innovative neurotechnology, the authors employ a novel method of nanotechnology patent characterization focused on highlighting key ethical considerations for the commercialization of neurotechnology. – Ari Rotenberg, Stacey Anderson-Redick, Zelma H. T. Kiss, Judy Illes (Nature)
Research participants’ perception of ethical issues in stroke genomics and neurobiobanking research in Africa – Ayodele Jegede, Olubukola Balogun, Olorunyomi Felix Olorunsogbon, et al. (PLOS One)
Neuromarketing And Emotional AI: Opportunities And Ethical Imperatives – Boris Dzhingarov (Forbes)