This session introduces “academic neurorights”—a framework for protecting cognitive liberty within higher education. As neurotechnologies and AI tools capable of monitoring student mental states—such as engagement, attention, or fatigue—enter the classroom, the foundational right to private thought is increasingly under threat. Aligning with the theme Humans, Humanity, and the Humanities, this research talk argues that preserving the “human” in the learning loop requires safeguarding the internal cognitive sanctuary necessary for intellectual risk-taking and dissent. The 15-minute presentation will detail the philosophical shift from expressive to cognitive freedom and offer a case study on classroom monitoring devices. Engagement will include a brief scenario-based analysis of “engagement-tracking” ethics. Participants will learn to define key neurorights—mental privacy, self-determination, and freedom of thought—and evaluate how these principles can be integrated into institutional policy.

Presenters

• Delaney Verjinski delaneyverjinski@southalabama.edu, University of South Alabama