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Ethics of Neurotechnology
"The examination of what is right and wrong, good and bad about the treatment of, perfection of, or unwelcome invasion of and worrisome manipulation of the human brain." - William Safire
What is Neuroethics?
First coined by William Safire, the term "neuroethics" refers to ethical matters surrounding the invasion and manipulation of the human brain. As scientific research progresses, our knowledge and understanding of the brain grows and many new technologies emerge. Methods for recording neural signals range from non-invasive surface electrodes to radioactive imaging scanners, such as CT and PET, to more invasive techniques, such as electrocorticography. Such techniques are vital for studying and treating neurological and behavioral disorders, but they raise questions regarding neural ethics and morality.
Roskies, A. (2021, March 3). Neuroethics. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/neuroethics/
The Issue of Bodily Autonomy
Exciting and ethically intriguing emerging technologies in neuroscience include myoelectrically-controlled prosthetic devices. Unlike traditional prosthetic devices, these devices use neural signals and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to enable fine motor control of a prosthetic limb.
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If the BCI controls the prosthesis, how much control do patients have over their actions? Who should be held responsible—the designer of the device or the user of the device—if the technology malfunctions, potentially damaging property or hurting another person?
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These questions raise issues of free will and bodily autonomy, which are complicated further by the fact that some prosthetic devices can decode neural signals faster than the user's awareness. In light of these issues, some suggest that all BCI-controlled devices should allow reversal of intent to ensure that patients can fully control their movements.
Brown, T. & Martens, H. (2020). The Social Impact of Brain Machine Interfaces: Closing Remarks. The Neuroethics Blog. Retrieved from http://www.theneuroethicsblog.com/2020/09/the-social-impact-of-brain-machine_22.html
