The goal is to systematize the primary domains of neuroethical issues within BRICS nations, identifying both general patterns and country-specific divergences in interpreting and managing the ethical implications of progress in neuroscience.The relevance of this issue stems from the need to find balanced approaches to evaluating the impact of neurotechnologies. Such approaches must take into account their potential benefits in advancing medicine, diagnostics, and neurological treatment as well as associated ethical, social, and legal risks. Particular emphasis was placed on protecting mental privacy, upholding personal autonomy, maintaining the confidentiality of neural data, preventing discrimination, and ensuring fair access to advancements in neuroscience. While these problems are universal, their interpretation and resolution vary significantly across individual nations with distinct historical backgrounds, cultural traditions, economic conditions, and institutional specifics.

In this research, neuroethics was taken as an interdisciplinary field at the intersection of bioethics, neuroscience, philosophy, law, and the social sciences. The effect of cultural values, economic potential, and scientific priorities of BRICS nations on the development of national approaches to the ethical evaluation of neurotechnological progress was explored.

The general and specific challenges were compared to identify existing differences between states, as well as to determine potential directions for the development of international scientific dialogue, experience exchange, and development of agreed-upon ethical principles. Thus, the study provides a deeper insight into how neuroethics is developing within BRICS nations. This framework helps evaluate future approaches to responsible neuroscience advancement, balancing universal ethical standards with specific national contexts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To conduct this study, data from open sources and specialized publications across BRICS member nations were analyzed [2, 6–15], enabling a comparative assessment of neuroethical issues taking into account regional specificities. This study utilized materials from the II All-Russian Conference with International Participation Bioethics and Global Social Transformations, which highlighted both the theoretical and practical dimensions of contemporary ethical challenges [1–2]. The study incorporates the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki [3] alongside the 2025 World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations [4–5]. This comprehensive approach enabled an analysis of neuroethical issues in BRICS nations that balances international standards with national specificities.

Comparative analysis and data systematization methods were used, which ensured the identification of both common and specific ethical challenges for BRICS nations.

RESEARCH RESULTS

Common neuroethical challenges faced by BRICS nations generally fall into a few key areas.

First, the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) requires global and coordinated regulation due to the rapid proliferation and profound impact of AI technologies on the society. Key challenges include ensuring algorithmic transparency, protecting against manipulation and spread of misinformation, and balancing innovation with the responsible use of AI. Within BRICS nations, emphasis is placed on incorporating cultural and national specifics into ethical standards. This approach fosters the creation of inclusive and fair AI systems that respect both national sovereignty and identity.

Second, invasive brain interventions, such as neurostimulation, introduce complex dilemmas regarding the preservation of personal autonomy, confidentiality of neural data, and potential risks to both mental and physical well-being. Key ethical challenges include the necessity of rigorous informed consent, evaluation of long-term consequences of such interventions, and regulation of technology access to prevent social inequality and misuse.

Finally, pharmacotherapy affecting cognitive abilities raises questions about the safety, efficacy, and fair access to medications. In this context, protecting patient rights, monitoring side effects, and preventing misuse are critical as they allow for cognitive enhancement. Thus, these areas are united by the common need to develop ethically sound, culturally informed, and legally protected standards within BRICS nations, ensuring the responsible advancement of neurotechnologies and the protection of human rights [6–9].

Regular meetings of BRICS working groups facilitate the development of joint international recommendations that reflect the specific nature of national conditions. In particular, special attention should be paid to the critical need for ethical guidelines governing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) in China, driven by the intensive research and rapid implementation of these technologies.

The latest guidelines from the World Health Organization and the World Medical Association (Declaration of Helsinki) carry significant weight within BRICS discussions. The joint initiatives of BRICS nations focus on creating unified regulatory policy. This approach enables them to successfully tackle contemporary challenges while ensuring ethical and structured advancement in neuroscience and biotechnology across BRICS nations [3-5, 10-12].

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

These research results expand existing academic knowledge on neuroethics, highlighting its nature as a cross-disciplinary domain intersecting neuroscience, philosophy, medicine, and social studies. The interdisciplinary framework, which forms the basis of this study, supports a comprehensive examination of the ethical challenges in neurotechnology.

A comprehensive analysis of the biological, psychological, philosophical, and cultural dimensions of human-neurotechnology interaction effectively structures key factors of the international bioethical dialogue such as personal autonomy, responsibility, confidentiality, and cognitive impact. This interdisciplinary approach drives further research into the profound impacts of neurotechnology on the society and individuals, establishing it as a highly promising and critical field for modern scientific community, research, and medical practice [13-15].

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the analysis conducted, the following conclusions can be made:

Despite their cultural, economic, and scientific differences, BRICS nations share several ethical challenges in neuroethics, particularly regarding the regulation of artificial intelligence, invasive brain interventions, and fair access to neuropharmacotherapy.

Individual BRICS nations come across neuroethical challenges due to some regional specificities. China, for instance, prioritizes the development of ethical guidelines for brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and data safety.

An integrated framework combining neuroscience, philosophy, medicine, and social sciences is essential for comprehending and resolving the ethical dilemmas of neurotechnology.

Collaborative efforts of BRICS nations, guided by the standards of the World Health Organization and the World Medical Association (Declaration of Helsinki), facilitate the creation of unified ethical guidelines that respect national contexts and foster responsible advancement in neuroscience.

The successful advancement of neurotechnologies requires the establishment of socio-culturally sensitive, legally sound, and ethically sound standards designed to protect individual rights, guarantee transparency, and prevent misconduct.