Models for the neuroethical debate in the community.

Citing a line from ancient Sanskrit wisdom, "there is nothing in the world so purifying as knowledge," John Timpane urges the adoption of a roots-up process by which citizens, in organized forums, deliberate critical neuroethical issues. The author suggests several ways such a deliberative process might play out with some top neuroethics issues--enhancement, stem-cell research, and the use of "brainprints"--to show how the citizen groups might form consensus recommendations. "We have time before the wave of the new neuroscience crests," he writes. "Best to discuss it now before the wave is upon us."