Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies
We Can Be Smarter and Happier: The Future of Neurotechnology
James J. Hughes Ph.D.Executive Director, Institute for Ethics and Emerging TechnologiesPublic Policy, Trinity College, Hartford CT
January 9, 2008Future Problem Solvers
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Overview
• Neurotechnologies
• Cognitive Liberty
• Risks to Cognitive Liberty from Neurotech
• Neurotech Solutions to Risks
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Emerging Technologies
Tech that will radically change the brain:– Psychopharmacology– Genetic engineering– Nanotechnology– Artificial intelligence– Cognitive science
• The accelerating convergence of all these
• “for improving human performance”
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Brain Enhancers
Internal
External
Hardware Software
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External Hardware
• Pictures, written language and numbers outsourced the brain
• Started with clay and paper
• Today wearable computers
• Cell phones
• The wireless exo-cortex
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External Software
• Communication with other people: verbal, electronic
• Collaborative knowledge: Meetings, Markets, Wikipedia, Google
• Calendars & To do lists• Info visualization • Biofeedback• Expert systems and
intelligent agents
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Internal Software
Knowledge and better thinking habits
• Education• Mnemonics• Cognitive therapy• Meditation and
concentration
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Internal Hardware
Starts with:Good diet (i.e. fish oil, vegetables)Physical exercise And now:Gene therapies DrugsBrain-computer interfacesTranscranial magnetic stimulation Stem cells and tissue engineeringDeep brain stimulationNanorobotics
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Cognitive Enhancement Goals
• More Memory • Less Anxiety and Better Mood• More Alertness • More Creativity and Self-
Awareness • More Empathy • Better Senses • More Moral Impulses and Better
Willpower
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Gene Therapy
To treat
• Retardation
• Alzheimers
• Depression
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Magnetic Stimulation
• Supposedly can enhance creativity and treat depression
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Deep Brain Stimulation• Depression• Epilepsy • Parkinsons• Obsessive-
compulsive disorder
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Sensory Prosthetics
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Brain-Computer Interfaces
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Control of Prosthetic Limbs
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NanoNeural Network
–Self-replicating–Two-way communication–Networked
2040?Now
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Cognitive Liberty
• “Happiness” vs. “Freedom to” as goals
• Bodily autonomy: right to control own brain
• Freedom of conscience, thought, belief
• Full self-realization• Brain privacy • Liberal individualism’s idea of a
discrete, autonomous decider (increasingly problematic)
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Risks to Cognitive Liberty
• Lack of Privacy• Overt Control• Ownership • Social Norms• Addiction• Inequality• Neurotech doesn’t pose
novel challenges, may offer novel solutions
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Lack of Privacy
• Extension of privacy of written and electronic records, drug tests
• Brain fingerprinting• Warrants for brain
scans, protecting brain privacy at work
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Overt Control
• Freedom of thought
• Criminal Rehabilitation
• Indoctrination
• Involuntary commitment Ongoing need to distinguish
legitimate brain liberty from insanity and criminality
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Independence from Social Norms
• Conformity, psychiatry under oppressive conditions
• Tools to suppress non-conformist impulses
• Or • Tools to resist social
pressures: spam filters for the brain
• Encourage individualism and expand choices
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Vaccines for Addiction
Vaccines and gene therapies to prevent or cure:
• Alcoholism
• Cocaine addiction
• Heroin addiction
• Nicotine dependency
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Protect/enhance equality
• Health care divide, digital divide
• Universal access necessary for individual opportunity and social equality
• Only half of American kids with ADD who could benefit from stimulant drugs take them
Literacy: the first step to cyborgization
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Ensure Universal Accessto Cognitive Enhancement
“…enhancing intelligence or changing personality or modifying our memory, maybe that should be available to everyone as a guarantee of equal opportunity.”
Arthur Caplan
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Final Thoughts
• Importance of cognitive libertyEvery person controlling their brain in self-determined ways
• Need for a positive model of human personality