Neurons Embodied in a Virtual World: Evidence for Organoid Ethics?

Neural organoids—lab-grown three-dimensional neural tissues—have advanced neurophysiology but raise ethical concerns. Sawai et al. (2022) proposed policies to regulate this technology, focusing on how to assess phenomenological consciousness in organoids and applying the precautionary principle. This commentary situates those proposals within broader research, highlighting recent evidence that human brain cells grown in a dish can engage in enactive learning when embodied in a virtual world via real-time closed-loop electrophysiological stimulation and recording (Kagan et al. 2021).

Study at a glance

Abstract

The development of neural organoids—three-dimensional constructs of neural tissue—resulted in significant advances in neurophysiological understandings, as well raising key ethical concerns. Sawai et al. (2022) discuss the use of these neural organoids, proposing policies to regulate this technology. The most pressing issue arises in the proposed metrics for assessing phenomenological consciousness and how they may be related to neural organoids. Secondary is their application of the precautionary principle. Our commentary seeks to position these points raised by Sawai et al. (2022) in the broader context of research, including recent evidence that lab-grown human brain cells are able to engage in enactive learning, while embodied in a virtual world through real-time closed-loop electrophysiological stimulation and recording (Kagan et al. 2021).