Laura Cabrera
Huck Early Career Chair in Neuroethics; Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics
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212 Earth Engineering Sciences
University Park, PA - lyc5332@psu.edu
Research Summary
The ethical and societal implications of neurotechnologies used for treatment as well as for enhancement purposes.
Huck Affiliations
Most Recent Publications
Is the Treatment Worse than the Disease?: Key Stakeholders’ Views about the Use of Psychiatric Electroceutical Interventions for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Laura Y. Cabrera, Robyn Bluhm, Aaron M. McCright, Eric D. Achtyes, 2025, Neuroethics
Consensus review and considerations on TMS to treat depression: A comprehensive update endorsed by the National Network of Depression Centers, the Clinical TMS Society, and the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology
Nick Trapp, A. Purgianto, J. Taylor, M. Singh, Lindsay Oberman, B. Mickey, Youssef Nagy, D. Solzbacher, B. Zebley, Laura Cabrera, 2025, Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology - Electromyography and Motor Control on p. 206-233
“The fewer pills the better”: Attitudes towards Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depressed Adolescents
Patricia Henegan, Manisha Kodavatiganti, Paul Croarkin, Laura Cabrera, 2025,
From Scholarship to Practice: Standardizing Calls to Action in Neuroethics
Kyrstin Lavelle, Laura Y. Cabrera, Judy Illes, 2025, AJOB Neuroscience
Tempered enthusiasm by interviewed experts for synthetic data and ELSI-focused checklists for AI in medicine
Laura Cabrera, Jennifer Wagner, Sara Gerke, Daniel Susser, 2025, AI & Ethics
Survey of common deep brain stimulation programming practices by experts in Parkinson’s Disease
J. E. Cunningham, Laura Cabrera, A. Mahajan, S. Aslam, S. De Jesus, R. Brennan, J. Jimenez-Shahed, C. C. Aquino, T. Xie, E. O. Vaou, N. Patel, M. Spindler, K. A. Mills, L. Zhang, J. Bertoni, C. Sidiropoulos, S. Miocinovic, B. L. Walter, F. Panov, S. E. Zauber, H. Sarva, 2025, Deutsche Zeitschrift fur Nervenheilkunde
A narrative review: 3D bioprinting of cultured muscle meat and seafood products and its potential for the food industry
Mediha Gurel, Nikheel Rathod, Laura Y. Cabrera, Stephen Voyton, Miji Yeo, Fatih Ozogul, Ibrahim Tarik Ozbolat, 2024, Trends in Food Science and Technology
Synthetic Health Data: Real Ethical Promise and Peril
Daniel Susser, Daniel Schiff, Sara Gerke, Laura Cabrera, Laura Y. Cabrera, Sara Gerke, I. Glenn Cohen, Megan Doerr, Jordan Harrod, Kristin Kostick-Quenet, Jasmine McNealy, Michelle Meyer, W. Nicholson Price, Jennifer Wagner, 2024, Hastings Center Report on p. 8-13
What Happens After a Neural Implant Study? Neuroethics Expert Workshop on Post-Trial Obligations
Ishan Dasgupta, Eran Klein, Laura Y. Cabrera, Winston Chiong, Ashley Feinsinger, Joseph J. Fins, Tobias Haeusermann, Saskia Hendriks, Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz, Cynthia Kubu, Helen Mayberg, Khara Ramos, Adina Roskies, Lauren Sankary, Ashley Walton, Alik S. Widge, Sara Goering, 2024, Neuroethics
Perceived barriers to using neurostimulation: A national survey of psychiatrists, patients, caregivers, and the general public
Marissa K. Cortright, Robyn Bluhm, Eric D. Achtyes, Aaron M. McCright, Laura Y. Cabrera, 2024, Convulsive Therapy on p. 111-117
Most-Cited Papers
Alzheimer's Disease in the Latino Community: Intersection of Genetics and Social Determinants of Health
Irving E. Vega, Laura Y. Cabrera, Cassandra M. Wygant, Daniel Velez-Ortiz, Scott E. Counts, Jose Abisambra, 2017, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease on p. 979-992
Ethics of digital mental health during COVID-19: Crisis and opportunities
Nicole Martinez-Martin, Ishan Dasgupta, Adrian Carter, Jennifer A. Chandler, Philipp Kellmeyer, Karola Kreitmair, Anthony Weiss, Laura Y. Cabrera, 2020, JMIR Mental Health
Addressing the disparities in dementia risk, early detection and care in Latino populations: Highlights from the second Latinos & Alzheimer's Symposium
Yakeel T. Quiroz, Michele Solis, María P. Aranda, Alicia I. Arbaje, Mirna Arroyo-Miranda, Laura Y. Cabrera, Minerva Maria Carrasquillo, Maria M. Corrada, Lucia Crivelli, Erica D. Diminich, Karen A. Dorsman, Mitzi Gonzales, Héctor M. González, Ana L. Gonzalez-Seda, Lea T. Grinberg, Lourdes R. Guerrero, Carl V. Hill, Ivonne Z. Jimenez-Velazquez, Jorge J.Llibre Guerra, Francisco Lopera, Gladys Maestre, Luis D. Medina, Sid O'Bryant, Claudia Peñaloza, Maria Mora Pinzon, Rosa V.Pirela Mavarez, Celina F. Pluim, Rema Raman, Katya Rascovsky, Dorene M. Rentz, Yarissa Reyes, Monica Rosselli, Malú Gámez Tansey, Clara Vila-Castelar, Megan Zuelsdorff, Maria Carrillo, Claire Sexton, 2022, Alzheimer's and Dementia
Neuroethics at 15: The Current and Future Environment for Neuroethics
Kellmeyer Philipp, Jennifer Chandler, Laura Cabrera, Adrian Carter, Karola Kreitmair, Anthony Weiss, Coauthor Judy Illes, 2019, AJOB Neuroscience on p. 104-110
The Interplay of Environmental Exposures and Mental Health: Setting an Agenda
Aaron Reuben, Erika M. Manczak, Laura Y. Cabrera, Margarita Alegria, Meghan L. Bucher, Emily C. Freeman, Gary W. Miller, Gina M. Solomon, Melissa J. Perry, 2022, Environmental Health Perspectives
Empirical Support for the Moral Salience of the Therapy-Enhancement Distinction in the Debate Over Cognitive, Affective and Social Enhancement
Laura Y. Cabrera, Nicholas S. Fitz, Peter B. Reiner, 2015, Neuroethics on p. 243-256
“They Are Invasive in Different Ways.”: Stakeholders’ Perceptions of the Invasiveness of Psychiatric Electroceutical Interventions
Robyn Bluhm, Marissa Cortright, Eric Achtyes, Laura Cabrera, 2021, AJOB Neuroscience on p. 1-12
The re-emergence of psychiatric neurosurgery: insights from a cross-national study of newspaper and magazine coverage
Laura Y. Cabrera, Merlin Bittlinger, Hayami Lou, Sabine Müller, Judy Illes, 2018, Acta Neurochirurgica on p. 625-635
Reasons for comfort and discomfort with pharmacological enhancement of cognitive, affective, and social domains
Laura Y. Cabrera, Nicholas S. Fitz, Peter B. Reiner, 2015, Neuroethics on p. 93-106
Rethinking human enhancement: Social enhancement and emergent technologies
Laura Y. Cabrera, 2015,
News Articles Featuring Laura Cabrera
Sep 17, 2024
Q&A: Ethical decision-making around neurotechnology treatments
Laura Cabrera, associate professor of engineering science and mechanics, has received a four-year, $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to research and develop a patient-centered decision aid to help guide patients, providers, and caregivers navigating their options.
Full Article
May 17, 2024
Neuralink says they’re looking to implant next 2 participants in coming months
Noland Arbaugh is the first human to receive a Neuralink brain implant chip.
Full Article
Apr 23, 2024
What Colorado’s new law means for brain-wave privacy in the Neuralink era
Under the legislation, the same privacy measures that are extended to fingerprints and facial recognition software now apply to brainwave data.
Full Article
Aug 07, 2023
New neurotechnology is blurring the lines around mental privacy – but are new human rights the answer?
Neurotechnology and the concerns that have been raised about privacy
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Jun 12, 2023
Elon Musk's Neuralink Is 'Heading' For Human Trials As Brain Computer Interface Startup Receives FDA Approval
In a significant leap for the field of neurotechnology, Neuralink, a tech startup co-founded by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, recently obtained the Food and Drug Administration’s approval to commence trials implanting their revolutionary brain chips into human subjects. The firm's cutting-edge brain-computer interface has generated significant anticipation, with trials expected to start in the near future.
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Jun 09, 2023
Elon Musk's Neuralink has FDA approval to put chips in humans' brains. Here's what's next.
Elon Musk's SpaceX recently launched the biggest and most powerful rocket into flight, even though it did not make it into orbit. But the world's richest man isn't content on expanding his sci-fi inspired technology into just the cosmos.
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Jun 04, 2023
Elon Musk’s brain implant company is approved for human testing. How alarmed should we be?
The billionaire’s record has raised concerns over Neuralink’s ability to responsibly oversee the development of such an invasive device
Full Article
Mar 08, 2021
Neuroethics researcher and professor joins Penn State
Laura Cabrera, a researcher in neuroethics and neurotechnologies, joined the Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics as an associate professor on March 1.
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