Conceptual and ethical issues with brain–hardware interfaces

Clausen, Jens

doi:10.1097/yco.0b013e32834bb8ca

Cited by 57 publications

(31 citation statements)

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“…Yet along with its remarkable efficacy, which is currently being tested in application to many pathologies, come a certain number of complications. These complications involve not only the surgical operative and postoperative aspects (Doshi 2011), but also the chance of some behavioral/psychological alterations (Clausen 2011;Klaming and Haselager 2013;Mackenzie 2011;Schermer 2011;Witt et al 2008). As the literature extensively reports, the vast majority of the side effects are usually addressable during the postoperative follow-up by optimizing the stimulator's parameters (Clausen 2010;Goodman and Alterman 2012).…”

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confidence: 99%

Stimulating the Self: The Influence of Conceptual Frameworks on Reactions to Deep Brain Stimulation

Mecacci

Haselager

2014

AJOB Neuroscience

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Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is generally considered to have great practical potential. Yet along with its remarkable efficacy, which is currently being tested in application to many pathologies, come a certain number of complications. In particular, there seem to be several adverse psychological implications behind a relevant number of postoperative situations. Whether these effects have to be attributed to a reactive response to a new situation or whether they are caused by the stimulation itself, or both, remains to be elucidated. This article takes up this issue, and evaluates how various views and conceptual schemes concerning the mind-brain relationship might play a role in the ensuing (mal)adaptation to DBS treatment. It is valuable to investigate the relationship between different conceptual assumptions and the onset of psychosocial maladaptations in clinical settings. In particular, we hypothesize that the frequently reported maladaptations might be partially caused by a conceptual shift away from dualism and toward a "neurocentric" materialism, promoted by the scientific explanation of the pathological situation. This article examines which conceptual framework is likely to play a dominant role in the perception of the general public of how the mind relates to the brain, and how this contrasts with the opinions of experts in cognitive neuroscience. We investigate how these different conceptual frameworks might play a role in the occurrence of psychosocial maladaptations to DBS treatment in clinical settings. Finally, we suggest how a more inclusive, embodied embedded stance toward the mind-brain relationship might help to overcome such maladaptations.

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confidence: 99%

Stimulating the Self: The Influence of Conceptual Frameworks on Reactions to Deep Brain Stimulation

Mecacci

Haselager

2014

AJOB Neuroscience

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“…While such technophile visions of 'telempathy' or telepathically experiencing others' emotions may not be wholly impossible in technological terms, the realization seems highly unlikely (Clausen 2011). Indeed, although the risks of open skull surgery can be justified by therapeutic benefits of cochlear implants, would neurosurgeons and potential clients take the risk of brain haemorrhage for simply making communication more direct?…”

Section: Cochlear Implantation and Transhumanismmentioning

confidence: 95%

Cochlear Implantation, Enhancements, Transhumanism and Posthumanism: Some Human Questions

Lee

2015

Sci Eng Ethics

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Biomedical engineering technologies such as brain-machine interfaces and neuroprosthetics are advancements which assist human beings in varied ways. There are exciting yet speculative visions of how the neurosciences and bioengineering may influence human nature. However, these could be preparing a possible pathway towards an enhanced and even posthuman future. This article seeks to investigate several ethical themes and wider questions of enhancement, transhumanism and posthumanism. Four themes of interest are: autonomy, identity, futures, and community. Three larger questions can be asked: will everyone be enhanced? Will we be "human" if we are not, one day, transhuman? Should we be enhanced or not? The article proceeds by concentrating on a widespread and sometimes controversial application: the cochlear implant, an auditory prosthesis implanted into Deaf patients. Cochlear implantation and its reception in both the deaf and hearing communities have a distinctive moral discourse, which can offer surprising insights. The paper begins with several points about the enhancement of human beings, transhumanism's reach beyond the human, and posthuman aspirations. Next it focuses on cochlear implants on two sides. Firstly, a shorter consideration of what technologies may do to humans in a transhumanist world. Secondly, a deeper analysis of cochlear implantation's unique socio-political movement, its ethical explanations and cultural experiences linked with pediatric cochlear implantation-and how those wary of being thrust towards posthumanism could marshal such ideas by analogy. As transhumanism approaches, the issues and questions merit continuing intense analysis.

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“…Who would be responsible for an accident caused by the patient because of the device in his brain (Clausen 2011)? This question refers to the ''thesis of identity change'' and refers to a practical implication of the problem of a patient's identity and its possible affection. If a patient, who is under the influence of DBS, develops a certain kind of criminal behavior and commits crimes the question of guilt arises.…”

Section: The Influence Of Dbs On the Components Of Autonomous Actionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ethics of deep brain stimulation (DBS)

Oduncu

2015

Med Health Care and Philos

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Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an invasive technique designed to stimulate certain deep brain regions for therapeutic purposes and is currently used mainly in patients with neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. However, DBS is also used increasingly for other experimental applications, such as the treatment of psychiatric disorders (e.g. severe depression), weight reduction. Apart from its therapeutic potential, DBS can cause severe adverse effects, some that might also have a significant impact on the patient's personality and autonomy by the external stimulation of DBS which effects lie beyond the individual's control and free will. The article's purpose is to outline the procedures of DBS currently used in therapeutic and experimental applications and to discuss the ethical concerns regarding this procedure. It will address the clinical benefit-risk-ratio, the particular ethics of research in this field, and the ethical issues raised by affecting a patient's or an individual's personality and autonomous behaviour. Moreover, a potential ethical guideline, the Ulysses contract is discussed for the field of clinical application as well as the question of responsibility.

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Conceptual and ethical issues with brain–hardware interfaces

Abstract: Brain-hardware interfaces need continuing ethical discussion to realize their full beneficial potential and avoid the pitfalls of hasty application.

Cited by 57 publications

References 0 publications

Stimulating the Self: The Influence of Conceptual Frameworks on Reactions to Deep Brain Stimulation

Stimulating the Self: The Influence of Conceptual Frameworks on Reactions to Deep Brain Stimulation

Cochlear Implantation, Enhancements, Transhumanism and Posthumanism: Some Human Questions

The ethics of deep brain stimulation (DBS)

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