TY - JOUR
T1 - Brain Recording, Mind-Reading, and Neurotechnology: Ethical Issues from Consumer Devices to Brain-Based Speech Decoding
AU - Rainey, Stephen
AU - Martin, Stephanie
AU - Christen, Andy
AU - Megevand, Pierre
AU - Fourneret, Eric
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Brain reading technologies are rapidly being developed in a number of neuroscience fields. These technologies can record, process, and decode neural signals. This has been described as ‘mind reading technology’ in some instances, especially in popular media. Should the public at large, be concerned about this kind of technology? Can it really read minds? Concerns about mind-reading might include the thought that, in having one’s mind open to view, the possibility for free deliberation, and for self-conception, are eroded where one isn’t at liberty to privately mull things over. Themes including privacy, cognitive liberty, and self-conception and expression appear to be areas of vital ethical concern. Overall, this article explores whether brain reading technologies are really mind reading technologies. If they are, ethical ways to deal with them must be developed. If they are not, researchers and technology developers need to find ways to describe them more accurately, in order to dispel unwarranted concerns and address appropriately those that are warranted.
AB - Brain reading technologies are rapidly being developed in a number of neuroscience fields. These technologies can record, process, and decode neural signals. This has been described as ‘mind reading technology’ in some instances, especially in popular media. Should the public at large, be concerned about this kind of technology? Can it really read minds? Concerns about mind-reading might include the thought that, in having one’s mind open to view, the possibility for free deliberation, and for self-conception, are eroded where one isn’t at liberty to privately mull things over. Themes including privacy, cognitive liberty, and self-conception and expression appear to be areas of vital ethical concern. Overall, this article explores whether brain reading technologies are really mind reading technologies. If they are, ethical ways to deal with them must be developed. If they are not, researchers and technology developers need to find ways to describe them more accurately, in order to dispel unwarranted concerns and address appropriately those that are warranted.
KW - Neuroethics
KW - Mind reading
KW - Neuroprosthetics
KW - Speech
KW - Language
KW - Philosophy
KW - Neuroscience
KW - Neurotechnology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85085097062&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11948-020-00218-0
DO - 10.1007/s11948-020-00218-0
M3 - Article
SN - 1353-3452
VL - 26
SP - 2295
EP - 2311
JO - Science and Engineering Ethics
JF - Science and Engineering Ethics
IS - 4
ER -