# Neuroethics of aDBS Systems Targeting Neuropsychiatric and Movement Disorders

> **NIH NIH R01** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $519,119

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) systems can record neural activity and adjust stimulation in real
time. These systems have emerged as a promising alternative to address significant limitations in conventional
open-loop DBS treatment of neuropsychiatric and movement disorders. The BRAIN Initiative and others have
made substantial investments in studies to accelerate the development of aDBS. However, neuromodulation
using DBS that can alter mood or motor outputs, has raised numerous ethical, legal, and social (“neuroethics”)
concerns (e.g., dehumanization, threats to autonomy/agency, changes in personal identity). aDBS systems
may exacerbate these concerns and raise novel neuroethics issues (e.g., privacy, use, and ownership of
neural data). Although theoretical bioethics work has explored ethical implications of conventional open-loop
DBS for treating various disorders, there is little empirical neuroethics research in this area, and there is a
severe lack of neuroethics research about aDBS. These issues need to be empirically examined and
addressed to responsibly research and translate aDBS to clinical care.
 The long term goal of our research program is to develop an ethically-justified and empirically-informed
policy framework for the responsible research and translation of aDBS systems. The objective of this proposal,
which is the first step in pursuit of that goal, is to identify the most pressing neuroethics issues related to aDBS
research and translation from the perspective of diverse stakeholders across multiple clinical research
contexts. This study will empirically examine neuroethics challenges associated with research and translation
of aDBS systems for treating neuropsychiatric and movement disorders. We will examine these neuroethics
issues by conducting: 1) participant observation of researchers running a BRAIN-funded aDBS clinical trial for
obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and 2) in-depth semi-structured interviews with stakeholders (i.e., aDBS
researchers, study decliners, patient-participants, and caregivers) involved in five different aDBS clinical trials.
We will also 3) examine if, and how, aDBS systems impact patient-participants’ perceptions of autonomy,
personal identity, and willingness to take risks by administering validated pre- and post-aDBS surgery
questionnaires and exploring these issues during the semi-structured interviews with patient-participants.
Identifying and understanding aDBS neuroethics issues can help develop management plans to promote the
responsible research and translation of aDBS, and maximize its social utility. If aDBS is eventually considered
safe and effective, minimizing pressing neuroethics challenges will contribute to the uptake of this
neurotechnology among the hundreds of thousands who could benefit from these systems.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10002034
- **Project number:** 5R01MH114854-04
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Wayne K Goodman
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $519,119
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-15 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10002034

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10002034, Neuroethics of aDBS Systems Targeting Neuropsychiatric and Movement Disorders (5R01MH114854-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10002034. Licensed CC0.

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