International Dimensions of Neuroscience: The Development of a New Field of Inquiry

The impact of context on how science and technology are adopted in society has been a focal point for Science, Technology and Society (STS). Contextual differences must be taken into account when scientific or technological innovations are transferred to new communities. Neuroethics, in its modem form, investigates the impact of brain science in four basic dimensions: the self, social policy, practice and discourse. In this study I compiled a set of 461 peer-reviewed articles with
neuroethics content published by authors from around the world. I analyzed the data to examine two central topics: (1) the development of international neuroethics over time and, (2) the differences in how challenges at the intersection of ethics and neuroscience are viewed in countries that are considered developed by International Monetary Fund (IMF) standards, and those that are developing and participate less in capital-intensive science such as neuroscience. My results demonstrate that from 2002 to 2005 there has been a steady increase in global participation in neuroethics as measured by numbers of articles published, journals publishing articles, and countries contributing to the literature. The majority of the countries publishing neuroethics-related material are developed. The focus of these publications as well as of the publications from developing
countries was the practice of brain science and the amelioration of neurological disease. Indicators of technology creation and diffusion in developing countries were specifically correlated with increases in publications concerning policy implications of brain science. Neuroethics is an international endeavor and, as such, should be sensitive to the impact that context has on acceptance and use of technological innovation. STS models provide an important framework for informing advances in neuroscience and its partnership with the growing field of neuroethics.