Research Group on Neuroethics/Neurophilosophy

In recent years, the ethical issues arising from the rapid progress of the neurosciences have led to the development of a new scientific discipline: Neuroethics, which combines research on the neurophysiological basis of moral behavior as well as the applied ethics of neuroscience.

At the University of Mainz a so far unique project was started: The establishment of an open, centrally governed and supervised bibliography, which is kept complete and up-to-date by the neuroethics community itself – a 'literature wikiography'. This bibliography is the heart of the Neuroethics Portal conducted since 2007. The portal offers a communication forum, a collection of interesting links and up-to-date information on projects, conferences and media articles as well.

In 2008 researchers from the University of Mainz in collaboration with colleagues from Vancouver, Canada, succeeded in starting a joint project on Cognitive Enhancement within the framework of a trilateral funding measure on 'Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects of Modern Neurosciences'. It is amended by a doctoral researcher group financed by Mainz University and dealing especially with topics owned to humanities and social sciences.

Since 2009 the subproject 'Theoretical, Anthropological and Ethical Issues in Brain-Computer Interaction' of the EU-funded project 'Tools for Brain-Computer Interaction (TOBI)' is located in Mainz, too.

In October 2010, the Research Group on Neuroethics/Neurophilosophy has emanated from the "Neuroethics" focus of the Research Focus on Interdisciplinary Neurosciences (IFSN). It is located in the rear building of Alte Mensa, Gresemundweg 4.