Research on Brain Organoids Should Prioritize Questions of Agency, Not Consciousness
Adina L. Roskies, Nicolas Rouleau
AJOB Neuroscience April 3, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/21507740.2026.2649171 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Consciousness Neuroethics Persistent vegetative state Minimally conscious state Brain research Cognitive science Cognitive psychology |
| Key findings | Argues that the concept of consciousness is used inconsistently in the literature on human brain organoids, leading to confusion in scientific and ethical discussions. Proposes that clearer definitions are needed to advance the field. |
Abstract
The target article by Van Gyseghem et al. (2026) surveys discussions of consciousness in papers involving human brain organoids (HBOs). They rightly point out that there are many divergent concepts...