From Neural Complexity to Relational Personhood: Rethinking Consciousness in Brain Organoids
AJOB Neuroscience April 3, 2026 Mario Picozzi, Renzo Pegoraro, Alberto Carrara
A systematic mapping of the ethical and philosophical literature on human brain organoids reveals how consciousness is discussed in that context. The analysis reconstructs the ways scholars invoke concepts of consciousness when debating the moral status, potential sentience, and research oversight of brain organoids. The mapping identifies key themes, including whether organoids could possess conscious experience, what neural correlates would indicate consciousness, and how uncertainty about organoid consciousness should guide ethical decision-making. The authors suggest the literature often conflates different notions of consciousness and call for more precise definitions to inform responsible research governance.