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