Consciousness and Human Brain Organoids: A Conceptual Mapping of Ethical and Philosophical Literature.
AJOB Neuroscience July 9, 2025 Aileen Van Gyseghem, Kris Dierickx, Andrew J Barnhart 17 citations
Human brain organoids (HBOs) are three-dimensional structures derived from human pluripotent stem cells that model aspects of fetal brain development. As HBO models grow more complex, ethical concerns arise, particularly around the potential for consciousness. Defining and detecting consciousness in HBOs remains unresolved, with existing theories offering conflicting predictions. This...