Animal Research in Neuroscience: A Duty to Engage

Allyson J Bennett; Dario L Ringach

doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2016.10.034

Animal Research in Neuroscience: A Duty to Engage

Neuron. 2016 Nov 2;92(3):653-657. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.10.034.

Authors

Allyson J Bennett¹, Dario L Ringach²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53106, USA.
² Departments of Neurobiology and Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. Electronic address: dario@ucla.edu.

PMID: 27810011
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.10.034

Abstract

Activists opposed to the use of animals in scientific research are increasingly dominating the public discourse and pressuring government officials to severely limit the scope of the work. Polls show that public support for animal research is in decline. Scientists must respond by engaging with the public and policymakers to explain their research and its importance and by addressing moral concerns and objections.

Keywords: animal research; animal rights; animal welfare; ethics; medical research; moral philosophy; science education.

MeSH terms

Animal Experimentation / ethics*
Animals
Humans
Neurosciences / ethics*
Public Relations / trends*