Novel Neurotechnologies

The brain is regarded as that which makes us unique as individuals and as a species. Recent developments in brain imaging and pharmacology as well as new surgical procedures such as deep brain stimulation and the transplantation of stem cells have transformed our relationship to our brains.

The field of neuroethics has emerged in order to address these new possibilities of neuroscience. With several grants currently underway, this is a growing area of expertise for the Novel Tech Ethics Research Team. Key focal points of our research include:

• How are psychopharmacologies creating a “new normal” for human behaviour–and what is normal for humans when “regenerative medicine” mixes and matches cells across species?
• How will the results emerging from neuroimaging studies and behavioral genetics affect our understanding—and social and legal enactment—of free will and responsibility?
• What are the particular kinds of “harm” and “benefit” offered by neurological treatment, neurological enhancement, and neurological control, and how do these challenge traditional notions and practices of risk assessment?