Towards new human rights in the age of neuroscience and neurotechnology

• Main Authors: Marcello Ienca, Roberto Andorno
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2017-04-01
• Series: Life Sciences, Society and Policy
• Subjects: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Deep Brain Stimulation; Rome Statute; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; Moral Enhancement
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40504-017-0050-1

Abstract Rapid advancements in human neuroscience and neurotechnology open unprecedented possibilities for accessing, collecting, sharing and manipulating information from the human brain. Such applications raise important challenges to human rights principles that need to be addressed to prevent unintended consequences. This paper assesses the implications of emerging neurotechnology applications in the context of the human rights framework and suggests that existing human rights may not be sufficient to respond to these emerging issues. After analysing the relationship between neuroscience and human rights, we identify four new rights that may become of great relevance in the coming decades: the right to cognitive liberty, the right to mental privacy, the right to mental integrity, and the right to psychological continuity.