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Overview

We Can Be Smarter and Happier: The Future of Neurotechnology James J. Hughes Ph.D. Executive Director, Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Public Policy, Trinity College , Hartford CT January 9, 2008 Future Problem Solvers. Overview. Neurotechnologies Cognitive Liberty

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Overview

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  1. We Can Be Smarter and Happier: The Future of NeurotechnologyJames J. Hughes Ph.D.Executive Director, Institute for Ethics and Emerging TechnologiesPublic Policy, Trinity College, Hartford CTJanuary 9, 2008Future Problem Solvers Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  2. Overview • Neurotechnologies • Cognitive Liberty • Risks to Cognitive Liberty from Neurotech • Neurotech Solutions to Risks Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  3. 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” Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  4. Hardware Software Internal External Brain Enhancers Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  5. External Hardware • Pictures, written language and numbers outsourced the brain • Started with clay and paper • Today wearable computers • Cell phones • The wireless exo-cortex Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  6. 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 Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  7. Internal Software Knowledge and better thinking habits • Education • Mnemonics • Cognitive therapy • Meditation and concentration Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  8. Internal Hardware Starts with: Good diet (i.e. fish oil, vegetables) Physical exercise And now: Gene therapies Drugs Brain-computer interfaces Transcranial magnetic stimulation Stem cells and tissue engineering Deep brain stimulation Nanorobotics Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  9. Cognitive Enhancement Goals • More Memory • Less Anxietyand Better Mood • More Alertness • More Creativity and Self-Awareness • More Empathy • Better Senses • More Moral Impulses and Better Willpower Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  10. Gene Therapy To treat • Retardation • Alzheimers • Depression Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  11. Magnetic Stimulation • Supposedly can enhance creativity and treat depression Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  12. Deep Brain Stimulation • Depression • Epilepsy • Parkinsons • Obsessive-compulsive disorder Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  13. Sensory Prosthetics Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  14. Brain-Computer Interfaces Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  15. Control of Prosthetic Limbs Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  16. NanoNeural Network 2040? Now • Self-replicating • Two-way communication • Networked Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  17. 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) Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  18. Risks to Cognitive Liberty • Lack of Privacy • Overt Control • Ownership • Social Norms • Addiction • Inequality • Neurotech doesn’t pose novel challenges, may offer novel solutions Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  19. Lack of Privacy • Extension of privacy of written and electronic records, drug tests • Brain fingerprinting • Warrants for brain scans, protecting brain privacy at work Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  20. Overt Control • Freedom of thought • Criminal Rehabilitation • Indoctrination • Involuntary commitment Ongoing need to distinguish legitimate brain liberty from insanity and criminality Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  21. 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 Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  22. Vaccines for Addiction Vaccines and gene therapies to prevent or cure: • Alcoholism • Cocaine addiction • Heroin addiction • Nicotine dependency Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  23. Protect/enhance equality Literacy: the first step to cyborgization • 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 Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  24. 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 Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

  25. Final Thoughts • Importance of cognitive libertyEvery person controlling their brain in self-determined ways • Need for a positive model of human personality Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

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