Advancing Ethical Discourse in Neurotechnology: A Bibliometric Approach to Unveiling Research Frontiers

Neurotechnology is rapidly evolving, presenting significant ethical, legal, and social challenges. This study employs a bibliometric analysis to map the ethical discourse surrounding neurotechnology, with a focus on emerging trends, key contributors, and future research directions. Using Scopus as the primary database, we analyzed 288 research articles published between 2000 and 2025, employing bibliometric tools like VOSviewer and Biblioshiny to visualize trends. Findings reveal four major thematic clusters, Ethical and Legal Dimensions of Neurotechnology, addressing concerns related to privacy, informed consent, and commercialization; Ethical Autonomy in Neurotechnology, exploring issues of AI-driven decision-making, free will, and neurological interventions; Ethics and Applications of Neurotechnological Interventions, highlighting debates on cognitive enhancement, neuromodulation, and medical ethics; and Bioethics and Neuroscientific Foundations of Neurotechnology, which focuses on integrating neuroscientific insights into ethical policy frameworks. 12 research prepositions related to ethical considerations in neurotechnology are proposed by current research. This study highlights gaps in literature, including the lack of standardized regulatory frameworks, disparities in access to neurotechnology, and unresolved ethical concerns about cognitive manipulation and autonomy. The findings emphasize the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between neuroscientists, ethicists, policymakers, and AI specialists to ensure ethical governance of neurotechnology. Future research should focus on policy development, cognitive privacy regulations, and ethical AI integration in neurotechnology.