Why It Matters—And the Role You Can Play

As neuroscience continues to evolve rapidly, the ethical, legal, and societal implications of this research are becoming increasingly significant. For neuroscientists and neuroengineers—whether undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, early-career faculty, or industry researchers—there is a growing recognition that their role extends beyond technical innovation. Their work contributes to shaping technologies and knowledge that can impact individuals, communities, and society at large.

Intentional training in the ethical and societal dimensions of neuroscience, alongside interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with fields beyond STEM, can enhance the research process itself. It can inform how research questions are framed, how methodologies are designed, and how findings are interpreted and shared. Such training fosters the mindset that neuroscience should be not only scientifically rigorous, but also socially responsive and ethically grounded.

As the field increasingly intersects with ethics, law, policy, education, and public engagement, there is a need for scholars and practitioners who can navigate and integrate these domains for the benefit of society. Neuroscientists have a vital role to play in contributing to the responsible development and application of neuroscience, including neurotechnologies.

The rapid advancement of neuroscience and neurotechnology can outpace public dialogue and policy development around their potential uses, misuses, risks, and societal implications. Ethicists, social scientists, and legal scholars play a crucial role in bridging this gap. Their collaboration with neuroscientists and neuroengineers ensures that broader societal values, community priorities, and ethical considerations are integrated into the research agenda and its real-world applications.

By engaging directly with the scientific process, scholars in these fields can help shape how neuroscience is conceptualized, conducted, and translated. For example, an ethicist working with a neuroscientist studying genetic or endophenotypic predictors of neurological disorders can help anticipate and address potential consequences for affected communities, including concerns around stigma, consent, and equity. Similarly, a legal scholar collaborating with a neuroengineer developing a device to decode speech from neural activity might examine how such innovations intersect with legal rights, privacy, and admissibility in judicial contexts.

As neuroscience continues to push boundaries, these interdisciplinary partnerships are essential for shaping governance frameworks that align technological progress with inclusive, responsible, and socially responsive innovation.

Private foundations, federal agencies, and companies that fund neuroscience research could incorporate or re-allocate 5% of their neuroscience research portfolio for their grantees–from the basic through applied sciences–to more deeply consider the ethical, legal, and societal issues that may arise in their work, and establish collaborations with ethicists, legal scholars, and social scientists to strengthen approaches to research. In addition, adopting the neuroscience and society paradigm goes beyond funding – it can influence a funders approaches to strategy, seeking external advice, communications, and more, by broadening beyond the focus solely on neuroscience.

Neuroscience holds profound implications for society, influencing everything from healthcare to education to public policy. As the field advances, there is an increasing need to examine how neuroscientific knowledge interacts with social, cultural, and ethical contexts. Recognizing this, academic societies and professional associations play a critical role in bridging scientific research with broader societal concerns.

In response to this evolving landscape, there is a growing interest in academia—including among students and early-career scientists—to better understand how to knit together science and non-STEM disciplines. Academic societies and professional associations have an opportunity to expand their membership by embracing and elevating these interdisciplinary voices, offering them opportunities to develop their professional skills and networks. These organizations could host sessions that educate or train neuroscientists to consider ethical and societal issues, and connect them with experts from other fields who could serve as collaborators on interdisciplinary work.

Neuroscience is already influencing a wide range of policy-relevant domains, including medicine, , and the justice system. As the societal impact of neuroscience continues to grow, policymakers play a critical role in ensuring that scientific advancements align with public values and serve the broader public good.

Policymakers have a responsibility not only to safeguard the ethical and equitable application of emerging neurotechnologies, but also to understand and respond to the diverse interests and concerns of their constituents. The  neuroscience and society paradigm offers a valuable framework for engaging with these issues—providing insights into how neuroscience intersects with lived experience, community priorities, and systemic inequities.

As stewards of public investment in science, policymakers are uniquely positioned to support dedicated funding for interdisciplinary research that addresses the societal dimensions of neuroscience. By championing policies that encourage collaboration across scientific, ethical, legal, and social domains, they can help guide responsible innovation that meets real-world needs and builds public trust.

For K–12 educators, integrating neuroscience and society into the classroom offers a powerful opportunity to nurture students’ natural curiosity and deepen their understanding of the connections between neuroscience and everyday life, such as the benefits of exercise for the brain, ethics in healthcare (access and patient rights) and the justice system (criminal culpability).

As part of a broader STEM curriculum, neuroscience can help students build a sense of STEM identity, inviting them to see themselves as scientists and critical thinkers. Introducing these concepts early may also inspire continued interest in brain science and related careers.

Educators can enrich both formal and informal learning environments by incorporating freely available neuroscience and society resources into their lessons, making science both relevant and engaging.

Neuroscience is increasingly entering the courtroom, raising important questions about how emerging science should inform legal decisions. From questions of criminal responsibility and competency to memory reliability and the effects of brain injury, neuroscience is being introduced in ways that can shape outcomes in both civil and criminal cases. As neuroscience evolves, it’s critical that judicial professionals are equipped through education and training to accurately and responsibly incorporate what we know about the brain into their work .

Neuroscience offers insights into human behavior, but it also has limitations. Judges must weigh complex expert testimony, assess the relevance and admissibility of scientific claims, and safeguard against misuse or overstatement of findings. The role of the judiciary is not to become expert in neuroscience, but to ask the right questions, understand what the science can and cannot say, and ensure that its use in the courtroom supports—not undermines—justice.

Recognizing this need, over 700 judges from federal, state, tribal, and administrative courts participated in neuroscience education seminars between 2006 and 2024, convened by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) with support from the Dana Foundation. These programs underscored the importance of ongoing judicial education to keep pace with scientific developments and to maintain public trust in the legal system’s capacity to evaluate complex evidence fairly and thoughtfully.

Science communicators play a crucial role in helping the public make sense of neuroscience—a field that touches on deeply personal aspects of life, from mental health to personal identity. They can serve as translators between researchers and the broader community, shaping how scientific developments are understood, trusted, and used.

Because neuroscience is both promising and complex, responsible communication requires more than simplifying findings. It means conveying that discovery is a process, not a series of final answers; spotlighting ethical and societal dimensions; and including the voices of patients and affected communities. Science communicators can help ensure that the science not only informs—but also respects and includes—the people it aims to benefit.

Public engagement practitioners play a vital role in shaping how neuroscience connects with society. As brain science becomes increasingly relevant to our daily lives—touching everything from mental health care to education to  environmental impacts on brain health—there’s a growing need for conversations that include the public as active participants, not just passive recipients. Public engagement practitioners are uniquely positioned to create opportunities for dialogue that make neuroscience more accessible, inclusive, and socially responsive.

Their work goes beyond translating complex information—it involves listening to community perspectives, building trust, and inviting diverse voices into the research and policy process. By creating spaces where people can explore how neuroscience intersects with their values, identities, and lived experiences, practitioners help ensure that public concerns and insights inform the direction of brain science itself. This kind of bidirectional engagement not only improves scientific literacy but also enhances the relevance and accountability of neuroscience.

As questions such as those regarding  mental health equity and the use of brain data grow more urgent, the role of engagement becomes even more critical. Practitioners help surface the hopes, fears, and expectations people hold about neuroscience—making them essential partners in guiding how neuroscience evolves. Their efforts contribute to a vision of neuroscience that supports human dignity, fosters informed decision-making, and serves the broader public good.

For individuals and families affected by neurological or psychiatric conditions, neuroscience is not just an academic pursuit—it’s personal. A 2022 public survey by ResearchAmerica! and the Dana Foundation found that 82% of people in the US either live with or know someone who has experienced a brain disorder or mental health condition.

Brain science influences the care people receive, the resources available to them, and how society understands and supports their experiences, so the public has a crucial role to play. In the same public survey, nearly two-thirds of Americans reported that patients should have more influence in setting research priorities. Their voices bring depth, clarity, and urgency to the scientific process—ensuring that research reflects real-world needs and leads to meaningful outcomes.

By sharing their stories, participating in research, or driving change, patients help shape a neuroscience that listens, learns, and responds. Their perspectives are not just valuable—they are essential for building a more inclusive and effective future in healthcare.

Neuroscience matters to everyone because brain health issues touch nearly every life. A 2022 public survey by ResearchAmerica! and the Dana Foundation found that 82% of people know someone—or are themselves—affected by a brain or mental health condition. As science continues to uncover how the brain works, there are growing opportunities for individuals to better understand their own health, engage with emerging technologies, and explore how brain science shapes everything from education  to mental wellness and policy.

Curious citizens also have an important role to play. Whether by participating in research, sharing perspectives on what matters most in healthcare, or asking questions about how new discoveries are used, the public helps shape the direction of neuroscience. An informed and engaged society ensures that brain science is not only innovative, but also ethical, inclusive, and responsive to real-world needs.

Clinicians encounter multi-faceted ethical and societal concerns when treating patients with neurological or psychiatric disorders. While medication and therapy-based interventions are effective at addressing some of these concerns, a more wholistic approach that includes consideration of societal challenges may lead to better long-term strategies to address mortality and morbidity.

Through neuroscience and society, there are opportunities to enhance clinical training with the latest neuroscience insights and patient-engagement practices, so that clinicians are better able to address their patient’s needs and transform medical care.