Neuroethics and fMRI: Mapping a fledgling relationship

TY - JOUR

T1 - Neuroethics and fMRI: Mapping a fledgling relationship

AU - Garnett, Alex

AU - Whiteley, Louise Emma

AU - Piwowar, Heather

AU - Rasmussen, Edie

AU - Illes, Judy

PY - 2011/4/22

Y1 - 2011/4/22

N2 - Human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) informs the understanding of the neural basis of mental function and is a key domain of ethical enquiry. It raises questions about the practice and implications of research, and reflexively informs ethics through the empirical investigation of moral judgments. It is at the centre of debate surrounding the importance of neuroscience findings for concepts such as personhood and free will, and the extent of their practical consequences. Here, we map the landscape of fMRI and neuroethics, using citation analysis to uncover salient topics. We find that this landscape is sparsely populated: despite previous calls for debate, there are few articles that discuss both fMRI and ethical, legal, or social implications (ELSI), and even fewer direct citations between the two literatures. Recognizing that practical barriers exist to integrating ELSI discussion into the research literature, we argue nonetheless that the ethical challenges of fMRI, and controversy over its conceptual and practical implications, make this essential.

AB - Human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) informs the understanding of the neural basis of mental function and is a key domain of ethical enquiry. It raises questions about the practice and implications of research, and reflexively informs ethics through the empirical investigation of moral judgments. It is at the centre of debate surrounding the importance of neuroscience findings for concepts such as personhood and free will, and the extent of their practical consequences. Here, we map the landscape of fMRI and neuroethics, using citation analysis to uncover salient topics. We find that this landscape is sparsely populated: despite previous calls for debate, there are few articles that discuss both fMRI and ethical, legal, or social implications (ELSI), and even fewer direct citations between the two literatures. Recognizing that practical barriers exist to integrating ELSI discussion into the research literature, we argue nonetheless that the ethical challenges of fMRI, and controversy over its conceptual and practical implications, make this essential.

KW - Cluster Analysis

KW - Databases as Topic

KW - Humans

KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging

KW - Neurosciences

KW - Periodicals as Topic

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0018537

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0018537

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 21526115

SN - 1932-6203

VL - 6

SP - e18537

JO - P L o S One

JF - P L o S One

IS - 4

ER -