A preliminary exploration on the ethical governance trends of global brain science research
10.12026/j.issn.1001-8565.2026.02.01
- VernacularTitle:全球脑科学研究伦理治理趋势初探
- Author:
Qing ZHANG
1
;
Xudong ZHAO
1
Author Information
1. School of Humanities Tongji University， Shanghai 200092， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
brain science;
neuroethics;
humanism;
biological reductionism
- From:
Chinese Medical Ethics
2026;39(2):143-150
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Brain science research involves technological applications such as bioengineering， information technology， artificial intelligence （AI）， and brain-computer interfaces， making it a focal area where advanced technologies and ethical issues converge. Currently， brain projects in multiple countries have entered their second-phase project processes and begun to reflect on the ethical challenges that emerged during the initial research phase. By sorting out and analyzing the coping strategies for ethical issues adopted by major international organizations related to brain science and countries that have launched brain projects， this paper pointed out the problems existing in brain science research， such as information security and data rights， the boundaries of technical power， the balance of stakeholders， the reductionist paradigm and the trend of technological dehumanization， as well as the inadequacy and practicality of ethical principles. It also analyzed the enlightenment of the global brain project’s ethical governance practices for China’s brain science ethical research， namely， avoiding overly optimistic deconstruction of the human brain through biological reductionism and preventing technocratic impulses to replace or manipulate the rich psychological experiences of human beings with AI or brain-computer interfaces. This paper proposed recommendations for developing neuroethics， advocating for constructing a technology development path enriched with humanistic care under the framework of scientific and technological ethics while strengthening foundational research in neuroethics.
