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From neuroimaging to neuroethics

Nature Neuroscience volume 6, page 205 (2003)Cite this article

To the editor

To advance awareness of ethical issues in the neurosciences1,2,3, we studied historical and emerging trends in neuroimaging, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as a model. Functional MRI has had a significant impact on the neurosciences in the past decade given its wide availability, unprecedented coupling of spatial resolution and safety, and application to a broad range of normative and clinical neurobehavioral phenomena4. Over time, the terrain of fMRI studies has expanded from examination of basic sensorimotor and cognitive processes to topics that more directly relate to human motivation, reasoning and social attitudes. Here we provide empirical validation of these trends and explore what issues they portend for the future.

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Figure 1: FMRI studies in the peer-reviewed literature from 1991 to 2001.
Figure 2

References

  1. Marcus, S.J. (ed.) Neuroethics: Mapping the Field Conference Proceedings (The Dana Foundation, New York, 2002).

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Acknowledgements

Biostatistician P. Schraedley-Desmond, The Greenwall Foundation, Stanford Medical Scientist Training Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics & Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305-5748, California, USA

    Judy Illes & Matthew P. Kirschen

  2. Program in Neuroscience, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305-5748, California, USA

    Matthew P. Kirschen

  3. Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305-5748, California, USA

    John D.E. Gabrieli

Authors
  1. Judy Illes
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  2. Matthew P. Kirschen
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  3. John D.E. Gabrieli
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Judy Illes.

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Illes, J., Kirschen, M. & Gabrieli, J. From neuroimaging to neuroethics. Nat Neurosci 6, 205 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn0303-205

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