Ethics of neuroscience and neuroscience ethics: To meet the future

Abstract

The foundations of medical ethics, laid by Hippocrates, grew from ancient philosophy. During the course of time and through development of science, ethics has been transformed from normative to the applied. One of the newest branches, neuroethics, has opened two new fields of research: ethics of neurosciences and neurosciences of ethics. Due to new discoveries, these fields raise numerous questions concerning neurodiagnostics, stimulation of nerve structures, 'cosmetic' psychopharmacology, problems of conscience, free will, etc. In empathy, as the basis of ethics, the latest findings point out the crucial role of mirror neurons. Groups of these neurons, scattered throughout the central nervous system, form a special matrix whose activity can be indirectly registered by positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Today there is a growing knowledge of motor, affective and cognitive aspects of empathy and of the brain structure involved in empathy, giving it biological basis, which sets the path for further research.