Centre for Ethics – Institute of Biomedical Ethics

Address

Institute of Biomedical Ethics
University of Zurich
Pestalozzistrasse 24
CH-8032 Zurich

Curriculum vitae

I studied philosophy (main subject), physics, mathematics and biology at the University of Berne (1989-1996). During 1996 to 2001, I worked as a project manager and (science) journalist. I obtained my PhD in Neuroinformatics at the ETH Zurich (2001-2006, topic: The role of spike patterns in neuronal information processing. A historically embedded conceptual clarification). Further engagements: Summer School of Complex Systems at the Santa Fe Institute (2002), Predoctoral fellow at the Max-Planck Institute of the History of Science in Berlin (2005). From 2007 to 2010, I was postdoctoral researcher at the Graduate Program of Interdisciplinary Ethics Research of the URPP Ethics, University of Zurich (project: The neuroscientific investigation of the moral agent).

Please find here a complete CV

Research interests

• Neuroethics: Ethical issues of neuroscience, in particular deep brain stimulation and effects of lesions on moral agency
• Empirical Ethics: Experimental methodologies for investigating moral agency, in particular the use of computer games (serious moral games)
• Methodology and History of Neuroscience: Methodological problems in investigating complex human behavior in neuroscience, history of technological interventions into the brain, history of social neuroscience
• Autonomy and Control: Autonomy, control and responsibility attribution in complex social systems, ethical issues of autonomous technological systems

Please find here more information on my research projects

Current research projects

• Ethical issues of deep brain stimulation
• Perceptional and iconographic aspects of the use of colors in neuroimaging
• Serious moral game development

Actual publications

Neuroethics:

• Müller S, Christen M: Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinsonian patients – Ethical evaluation of stimulation-induced personality alterations. American Journal of Bioethics – Neuroscience, in press. -
• Christen M (2009): Technisierte moral agents? Wechselwirkungen zwischen der neuroscience of ethics und dem therapeutischen Einsatz von Neurotechnologien. In: Müller O, Clausen J, Maio G (Hrsg.) Das technisierte Gehirn. Mentis, Paderborn: 253-272

Empirical Ethics:

• Christen M (2010): Naturalisierung der Moral? Abklärung des Beitrags der Neurowissenschaft zum Verständnis moralischer Orientierung. In: Fischer J, Gruden S: Struktur der moralischen Orientierung. Reihe "Ethik interdisziplinär", LIT-Verlag, Münster: 49-123
• Christen M (2009): Experimente in der Ethik. Information Philosophie 04/2009: 16-25

History / Methodology of Neuroscience:

• Matusall S, Kaufmann I, Christen M: The Emergence of Social Neuroscience as an Academic Discipline. In: Decety J, Cacioppo J (Eds.) Handbook of Social Neuroscience, Oxford University Press, UK, in press
• Christen M (2008): Varieties of Publication Patterns in Neuroscience at the Cognitive Turn. Journal of the History of the Neurosciences 17: 207-225

Autonomy and Control:

• Christen M (2007): Autonomie – eine Aufgabe für die Philosophie. Studia philosophica 66: 175-1944
• Christen M, Bongard G, Pausits A, Stoop N, Stoop N (2007): Managing Autonomy and Control in Economic Systems. In: Helbing D: Managing Complexity: Insights, Concepts, Applications. Springer, Berlin: 37-56

Books :

• Christen M, Osman C, Baumann-Hölzle R (Hrsg.) (2010): Herausforderung Demenz. Spannungsfelder und Dilemmata in der Betreuung demenzkranker Menschen. Peter Lang Verlag, Bern -
• Heilinger J-C, Christen M (2010): Über Menschliches. Biotechnische Verbesserung des Menschen zur Überwindung von Leiden und Tod? Reihe „Utopie Mensch“ des Instituts Dialog Ethik, Zürich / Verlag „Die Brotsuppe“, Biel, Band 2
• Christen M, Baumann M (Hrsg.) (2009): Verantwortung im politischen Diskurs. Handbuch Ethik im Gesundheitswesen, Band 4. Verlage Schwabe / EMH Schweizerischer Ärzteverlag, Basel -
• Weidmann-Hügle T, Christen M (Hrsg.) (2009): Ethikdialog in der Wissenschaft. Handbuch Ethik im Gesundheitswesen, Band 4. Verlage Schwabe / EMH Schweizerischer Ärzteverlag, Basel

Please find here the complete publications list