NeuroRights

An insider’s account of the revolutionary advances in neuroscience, the ethical challenges they pose, and the urgent need for regulation

Rafael Yuste, one of the world’s foremost neuroscientists, delivers an urgent, accessible, and eye-opening book that explores the ethical revolution sparked by neurotechnology. Drawing on decades at the forefront of the field, Yuste argues that the time has come to establish clear legal frameworks to safeguard the integrity of the human mind in the face of rapidly advancing brain technologies.

A global advocate for ethical regulation, Yuste led the creation of the five fundamental Neurorights—mental privacy, personal identity, free will, fair access to mental augmentation, and protection against bias—and launched an international initiative to enshrine them in national constitutions, beginning with Chile and now expanding to countries like Brazil and Mexico.

He also offers a stark warning: without proper regulation, neurotechnology could be exploited for invasive purposes such as non-consensual mental manipulation or the commercial harvesting of brain data. Though originally developed for medical use, these tools now risk deepening social and anthropological divides—potentially creating a world split between “enhanced” individuals and those left behind.

Yet NeuroRights is not a dystopian vision. On the contrary, Yuste lays out a hopeful path toward a new brain-based humanism—one that ensures neurotechnology is harnessed ethically, equitably, and in service of the common good.

The Five Neurorights:
• Mental privacy
• Personal identity
• Free will
• Fair access to mental augmentation
• Protection against bias