Cognitive sovereignty and neuro-justice: neurotechnological advancements and mental autonomy in the Global South
Chiara Saracini
Frontiers in Public Health June 2, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1877249 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Cognitive reframing Technocracy Autonomy Cognition Paradigm shift Sovereignty White paper Consciousness Identity music Cognitive skill Independence probability theory Capital architecture Public relations Biomedicine Perspective graphical Global mental health Health care Public policy |
| Key points | Argues that neurotechnology ethics and law are shaped by a Global North technocratic logic centered on cognitive enhancement and human optimization, which overlooks Global South realities where the priority is the fundamental right to basic healthcare and neurorehabilitation. |
Abstract
In recent years, the development of neurotechnologies has stimulated extensive ethical and legal debates around the concepts of neurorights, cognitive liberty, and mental privacy (Ienca & Andorno, 2017). Yet, the current debate has been shaped largely by a technocratic logic originating in Global North contexts, where neurotechnological innovation is often framed in terms of cognitive enhancement and human optimization (Bostrom & Sandberg, 2009;Savulescu et al. , 2011). This perspective overlooks the material and ontological realities of the Global South, where the priority is not the "upgrade" of a functioning system, but the fundamental right to basic healthcare and neurorehabilitation.