1. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Cognitive Liberty in the Neurotechnology Era James J. Hughes Ph.D. Executive Director, Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Public Policy, Trinity College, Hartford CT September 21, 2006 Neuroethics Seminar University of Pennsylvania

2. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Overview Cognitive Liberty Neurotechs Risks to Cognitive Liberty Limits of Cognitive Liberty

3. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Cognitive Liberty Bodily autonomy: right to control own brain Freedom of conscience, thought, belief Brain privacy Liberal individualism’s idea of a discrete, autonomous decider (increasingly problematic)

4. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Emerging Technologies Tech that will radically change human brain: –Psychopharmacology –Genetic engineering –Nanotechnology –Artificial intelligence –Cognitive science The accelerating convergence of all these “for improving human performance”

5. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies NeuroEnhancement Memory (anti- Alzheimers drugs, stem cells) Fear, Anxiety (Propanalol) Mood (Prozac, brain stims) Alertness (Ritalin, Provigil) Creativity (TMS) Empathy, Trust (Oxytocin, Ecstasy, gene therapy) Sensory (cochlear implants)

6. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies NanoNeural Network Today: Cyberkinetics chip Future: Nano- Neural Network –Self-replicating –Two-way communication –Networked “Neuro-vascular central nervous recording/stimulating system: Using nanotechnology probes,” Rodolfo R. Llinás, Kerry D. Walton, Masayuki Nakao, et al., Journal of Nanoparticle Research 2005 2040? Now

7. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Risks to Cognitive Liberty Lack of Privacy Overt Control Ownership Social Norms Neurotech doesn’t pose novel challenges

8. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Lack of Privacy Extension of privacy of written and electronic records, drug tests Brain fingerprinting eventually functional Need for laws requiring warrants for brain scans, protecting brain privacy at work

9. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Overt Control Extension of debates over indoctrination, involuntary commitment Uses of neurotech to control desire, identity, ideation, knowledge Defend liberal society, fight totalitarianism Ongoing need to parse legitimate cog liberty from insanity and criminality

10. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Ownership and Openness Extension of debates over IP, open source, voting machines, pharma trials Right to cog lib supercede proprietary rights over cog tech? Google Desktop added 10 points to my IQ – do I need to know how it works?

11. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Independence from Social Norms Extension of concerns over conformity Ability to suppress non- conformist impulses Sex re-assignment or gender identity correction? Divorce or self-agnegation? Encourage individualism

12. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Virus Protection for the Brain Conscious control of susceptibility to pressure to conform, obey Having an internal locus of control Becoming aware of external influences Turning off submission to authority Steve Mann’s spam filters

13. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Limits of Liberty Need to protect/enhance Flourishing Equality Empathy & solidarity Moral behavior

14. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Stop the Drug War Develop Therapies for Drug Dependency Alcohol aversion drugs, e.g. naltrexone Buprenorphine for opiates Vaccines and gene therapies to prevent or cure: Alcoholism Cocaine addiction Heroin addiction Nicotine dependency

15. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Protect/enhance equality Parallel to education policy, access to mental health treatment, digital divide Universal access, and even mandatory enhancement, may be necessary for individual opportunity and social equity Literacy is the first step to cyborgization

16. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Ensure Universal Access “…enhancing intelligence or changing personality or modifying our memory, maybe that should be available to everyone as a guarantee of equal opportunity.” Arthur Caplan

17. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Empathy Therapies Diagnosis for, and subsidized enhancement of, the genetic and neurophysiological bases of empathy and agreeableness Attitudes toward immigrants has a genetic component Debate over pathological racism & homophobia as a mental disorder

18. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Oxytocin and Trust Breastfeeding Orgasm Bonding and trust “Neuroactive hormones and interpersonal trust: International evidence” Zak & Fakhar, Economics and Human Biology –Oxytocin deficits?

19. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies Final Thoughts Importance of cognitive liberty Every person controlling their brain in self-determined ways Importance of liberal and social democratic societies - Liberté, egalité, solidarité - celebration of diversity & individualism Need for a positive model of human personality