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 Technologies Public Policy, Trinity College, Hartford CT January 9, 2008 Future Problem Solvers

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

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies 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 Brain Enhancers Internal External HardwareSoftware

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

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies 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 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

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

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

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

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Sensory Prosthetics

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Brain-Computer Interfaces

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Control of Prosthetic Limbs

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

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

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies 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

Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Ensure Universal Access to 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 Final Thoughts Importance of cognitive liberty Every person controlling their brain in self-determined ways Need for a positive model of human personality