The Brain and Ethics: An Introduction to Research in Neuroethics

Abstract

The brain is a complex organ and neuroscientists are using many different methods to try to understand – and perhaps even change – how the human brain works. Before this research can take place; however, researchers must ensure that their work is ethical. In this review article, we introduce the exciting field of neuroethics and describe the three key ethical principles by which all human research studies must abide. We also describe four research studies that neuroethicists at the National Core for neuroethics have carried out to give you an idea of the range of work that is being done by those who are interested in the ethics of neuroscience and the neuroscience of ethics.