Ethical and Regulatory Issues in Pediatric Research Supporting the Non-Clinical Application of fMR Imaging

摘要

Clinical research using fMRI enables to correlate brain activity to highly intimate human capacities and functions such as memory, character, or (anti-)social behavior. The results of such research offer a large potential for non-clinical applications, as Fenton and colleagues (2009) point out in the target article. Pediatric fMRI is surrounded by myriad ethical issues (Hinton, 2002) that are intensified in developing non-clinical applications of the technology, as such applications may introduce new paradigms in important social institutions, including education and jurisprudence. In this context, Illesandcolleagues (2006) rightly indicate that, even though such non-clinical applications are not validated, reliable or standardized to date, the time is right for a proactive ethical approach.