Ethics, neuroscience and public policy: can team-based learning be a means to raise awareness of the problem of dual-use among practicing neuroscientists?

Abstract

The revolution in neuroscience, based on the recent development of novel techniques such as brain imaging that allow greater insight into the working of the central nervous system, will be accelerated by the injection of major funding in state-level brain research projects around the world and will undoubtedly lead to great benefits. However, the results of the research may be subject to hostile misuse, which in the context of chemical and biological weapons has been called the problem of dual use. An example could be the development of novel so-called non-lethal incapacitating chemical and biological agents that attack the central nervous system based on the knowledge derived from benignly-intended civil brain research. Unfortunately, most practicing neuroscientists are not aware of this problem and therefore cannot add their expertise to efforts to prevent such misuse. This paper reviews an attempt to test whether a Team-Based Learning (TBL) active learning exercise could be used to raise awareness of the problem of dual use amongst a group of practicing neuroscientists. It is concluded that TBL is a useful approach, but to effectively engage neuroscientists in helping to deal with dual use it would need to be incorporated within a co-ordinated national, regional and international educational initiative.