The SERNA Conceptual Standard for Neural Correlates of Moral Development and Ethical Reasoning: Definitions, Relationships, and Theoretical Integration (SCS-MDR)

**Background:** Moral development, the process by which individuals acquire the ability to distinguish right from wrong and apply ethical principles, is a foundational aspect of human psychology and social cohesion. However, the field is characterized by "terminological chaos," with terms like "moral judgment," "moral reasoning," "empathy," and "social intuition" often used inconsistently. **Problem:** This conceptual fragmentation prevents the development of standardized neuro-cognitive biomarkers for moral maturity and limits the ability to design evidence-based ethics education. Specifically, the "Rationalist" (Kohlberg) vs. "Intuitionist" (Haidt) debate remains poorly integrated into a unified neural model. **Objective:** To establish the SERNA Conceptual Standard (SCS-MDR), providing canonical definitions and a testable neuro-cognitive model for moral development. **Approach:** A systematic review of over 400 peer-reviewed articles was conducted, synthesizing evidence from developmental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and moral philosophy. **Contributions:** This standard defines 12 canonical terms, establishes the "Dual-Process Moral Integration (DMI) Model," and proposes 10 falsifiable hypotheses for future research. **Conclusions:** SCS-MDR provides the theoretical infrastructure to transition moral research from abstract stage-theories to predictive modeling of ethical behavior and neural circuit efficiency.