Abstract
Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is a group of relatively recent technologies that connects Central Nervous System (CNS) activity with an external device. The resulting interconnected pathway may possess a variety of functions, from extracting and showing electrical activity in the brain to modifying entire cognitive functions. Owing to its revolutionary capability of accessing individuals’ neural systems and modifying their mental states, BCI accounts for major breakthroughs in medical neuroscience, but are also ethically problematic. Under closer scrutiny, BCI notably gives rise to concerns relevant to privacy, autonomy, and identity, three basic rights of the individual. By focusing on ethical definitions, ethical scenarios, and two specific cases concerning vulnerable social groups, this essay examines the ethical repercussions of Brain-Computer Interface in the context of medical research and treatment.
Publisher
Darcy & Roy Press Co. Ltd.
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