Neuroethics Today

In the first episode of Season 5 on the Neuroethics of Psychedelics ⁠, we speak with  Godfrey Pearlson ⁠  about the science of psychedelics, what these substances are, and why they have become an important focus of research and clinical interest. Professor Pearlson is a Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Yale University and the founding director of the Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center...

Season 5 of  Neuroethics Today  dives into the psychedelic frontier, where brain science, medicine, ethics, and society meet in transformative ways. Hosted by Dr. Lavinia Carmen Uscatescu, this powerful new season brings together leading voices to unpack the breakthroughs, controversies, promises, and ethical dilemmas shaping the future of psychedelic research and therapy. Get ready for bold conve...

Do we need to protect ourselves from brain tracking and hacking? Do we need a right for cognitive liberty? In her groundbreaking new book, Professor Nita Farahany explores the profound ethical and legal challenges posed by emerging neurotechnologies. These innovations have the potential to reshape how we understand, influence, and define ourselves—but they also come with significant risks. In this...

His new book covers a wide range of ethical discussions in the fields of neuroscience and neuroethics including questions such as ""Is free will an illusion?" and "Is addiction a brain disease?". Joshua May writes in a lively and accessible manner, a book dedicated for students, teachers, and scholars alike across both the sciences and humanities. Season 4 of , hosted by D...

Can neuroscience research measure violence in the brain? His new book highlights some ethical dilemmas of neuroscience research on violence. As a Black man, Dr. Oliver Rollins warns that such research could potentially lead to (racial) profiling, escalating inequities in society. In his recent book, he warns against a dystopian future where behavior is reduced to our biology. Season 4 of Neuroethi...

During Episode 6 of our special season highlighting last year’s International Neuroethics Society meeting, we focused on important take-home messages. Our guest host was Dr. Tim Brown, assistant professor in the Department of Bioethics and Humanities at the University of Washington. Our speakers were Dr. Jasmine Kwasa, postdoc at Carnegie Mellon’s Neuroscience Institute; Juhi Farooqui, PhD student...

During Episode 5 of our special season highlighting last year’s International Neuroethics Society meeting, we focused on the emerging field of environmental neuroethics. Our co-guest hosts were Dr. Laura Cabrera, J. Lloyd Huck Career Chair in Neuroethics at Pennsylvania State University; and Erin Morrow, PhD student in cognitive psychology at UCLA. Our speakers were Rudi Louis Taylor-Bragge - Iowe...

During episode 4, we focused on the questions: 'What is anti-racist neuroscience? Is there space for social justice in academic institutions? How can neuroethics truly engage meaningfully with social justice and anti-racism?' Episode 4 of the special INS season of Neuroethics Today brings together Dr. Keisha Ray, Assistant Professor at the McGovern Center for Humanities & Ethics at UT Health H...

During episode 3, we focused on the question 'How do disability, neurotechnology, and social justice all interact?'. Join guest host Dr. Sara Goering and three incredible panelists as they explore how emerging technologies interact with ableist structures and how neuroethics can better challenge these ableist structures. This week’s panelists are Gregor Wolbring, Professor at the University of Cal...

During episode 2 our special INS season brings together diverse voices on community-centered social justice and neuroethics. Led by guest hosts Dr. Laura Specker Sullivan and Dr. Nicole Martinez, this panel delves into the role of identity and of communities in mental health work and advancing social justice. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Neely Myers, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Sou...

During Episode 1 of our special season highlighting last year’s International Neuroethics Society meeting, we focused on the meeting theme. This conference centered social justice and neuroethics, and in this episode we defined these terms and discussed the importance of their intersection. Our guest host was Dr. Nita Farahany, immediate past president of the INS. Our speakers were Dr. Anita L. Al...

During Episode 11 of Season 2, we focused on the role of neuroscience in the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the U.S. Katherine Bassil - founder and host - together with Dr. Veronika Schöpf - head of Natural Science and engineering at the Austrian Science Fund FWF and former professor of neuroimaging- discuss the ethical implications of misinterpreting neuroscientific findings in non-research settin...

During Episode 10 of Season 2, we focused on a rather controversial topic: Military neurotechnologies and dual-use. Katherine Bassil - founder and host - together with Dr. Jonathan D. Moreno - philosopher and professor at University of Pennsylvania - discuss the ethics of using neuroscience research for military purposes, the dangers and advantages of dual-use neurotechnologies, and the challenges...

During Episode 9 of Season 2, we decided to focus our attention on mental health equity, namely mental health equity between low/middle-income and high-income countries. Katherine Bassil - founder and host - together with Dr. Karen Herrera-Ferrá - clinical MD, clinical psychologist, cognitive behavioral therapist, and founder and former president of the Mexican Association of Neuroethics - discuss...

During Episode 8 of Season 2, Katherine Bassil - founder and host - together with Dr. Christian Herff - Assistant Professor at Maastricht University - discuss brain-computer interfaces (BCI) and the ethical implications of this neurotechnology. We covered questions such as: What are BCI? What are associated hopes and hypes of this technology? How do private companies like Neuralink influence BCI r...

During Episode 7 of Season 2, we decided to focus our attention on digital mental health interventions, namely mental health mobile applications. Katherine Bassil - founder and host - together with Dr. Nicole Martinez-Martin - Assistant Professor at Stanford University - discuss the ethics of mental health mobile apps, their advantages, challenges, and implications of using such tools. We covered...

During Episode 6 of Season 2, Jackson Boonstra - a neuroscience PhD candidate at Maastricht University - argues why he is of the opinion that "Neuralink won't work". In his monologue, Jackson provides arguments on how Neuralink's aims and goals are theatrical and science-fiction in nature. TUNE in NOW!  Useful links:  Neuroethics Today website Neuroethics Today on Twitter Neuroethics Tod...

During Episode 5 of Season 2, we focused on the topic of the hour: Artificial Intelligence (also known as AI). Katherine Bassil - founder and host - together with Dr. Katleen Gabriels - moral philosopher and assistant professor at Maastricht University - discuss the ethics of AI, the promises and pitfalls, and the need for legislation and AI guidelines. We covered questions such as: What does a mo...

In the third episode of our podcast mini-series #TIPsyThursday* we discuss the 'Cognitive Enhancers'.  Host Katherine, together with co-hosts Mariel and Susan have an open discussion about what are 'Cognitive Enhancers', and what are the ethical issues that can be associated with this emerging HOT technology. Some of the questions we discussed include: What are the different types of cognitiv...

During Episode 4 of Season 2, we invited Michelle Muller , a scientist-turned-artist with a family history of Huntington's Disease . Michelle shared her experience with genetic testing , the emotional turmoil that accompanied it, and the ethical implications that were running through her mind. As a former early-career scientist, Michelle was driven to find a cure for Huntington's to help her famil...

2-minutes Neuroethics: What is Dual-Use?

During Episode 3 of Season 2, we decided to focus our attention on an increasingly emerging topic in neuroethics: Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Neurotechnology. Katherine Bassil - founder and host - together with Dr. Anna Wexler - Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania - discuss the ethics of DTC Neurotechnology, associated misconceptions, concerns, and advantages of working closely with...

In the second episode of our podcast mini-series #TIPsyThursday* we discuss the 'Biomarkers for Brain Diseases'.  Host Katherine, together with co-hosts Mariel and Susan have an open discussion about what are 'Brain Biomarkers', and what are the ethical issues that can be associated with this this technology. We even raised personal questions such as: Would you want to know of a risk to psych...

2-minutes Neuroethics: What is the Neuroscience of Ethics?

2-minutes Neuroethics: What is the Ethics of Neuroscience?