Global brain research in the era of national data sovereignty

Journal article

As artificial intelligence elevates the economic and strategic value of data, governments are intensifying efforts to regulate the collection, use, and cross-border transfer of personal information. Data are increasingly treated as national assets, subject to legal, economic, and geopolitical control. These shifts are reshaping scientific research, particularly in neuroscience and brain health, where progress depends on access to large, diverse, and internationally distributed datasets. In parallel, advances in neuroimaging, neurotechnology, and computational modeling are enabling population-scale neuroscience and the generation of AI-ready brain datasets. These developments further increase the strategic importance of neurodata, amplifying both its scientific value and its governance complexity. The convergence of these trends exposes a fundamental tension between the needs for an open science culture and data sovereignty. Without coordinated responses, these dynamics risk limiting representation, slowing innovation, and reinforcing global inequities in brain health research. Here, we argue that neuroscience requires an international data governance coordinating body capable of aligning research and regulatory priorities. In addition to outlining distinct challenges posed by neurodata, we propose strategies to support secure, equitable, and sustainable global collaboration and practical governance instruments to support coordinated implementation across jurisdictions.

Authors: Ray, KL; Botes, M; Collier, M; Yi, A; Hershman, S

• Publication status: Accepted
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Springer Nature
• Journal: Nature Neuroscience
• Acceptance date: 2026-05-26
• EISSN: 1546-1726
• ISSN: 1097-6256
• Language: English