Research Ethics Challenges in Neuroimaging Research: A Canadian Perspective

Neuroimaging research continues to engage the imaginations of scientists, members of the media, and the general public. As an area of human subject research, it also raises a number of research ethics issues that, while not necessarily unique to neuroimaging, offer particular challenges in this growing domain. Here, we consider a number of the key research ethics issues that are emerging as being of central importance to the continued development of this field. We will situate our discussion within the Canadian framework, but many of the issues raised will have broad jurisdictional relevance. While providing a comprehensive examination of all of the research ethics issues implicated by neuroimaging research is beyond the scope of this review, it is hoped that this paper will serve as a useful overview and guide to researchers, research ethics boards, and others interested in neuroimaging research. Co-authored by Ciara Toole, Amy Zarzeczny, Timothy Caulfield and published in International Neurolaw: A Comparative Analysis, T.M. Spranger (ed.) Springer, 2012.