Ethical aspects of brain computer interfaces: a scoping review

BMC Medical Ethics, 2017 · DOI: 10.1186/s12910-017-0220-y · Published: October 31, 2017

Simple Explanation

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) are technologies that connect the brain directly to computers, offering potential benefits for communication and control, especially for paralyzed individuals. However, these technologies also raise ethical, social, and legal challenges. A review of existing literature highlights ethical concerns such as impacts on personhood, autonomy, privacy, and responsibility, along with issues of safety and justice. Currently, there is a limited focus on practical solutions to these ethical dilemmas. Future research should focus on creating practical solutions for BCI ethical challenges, as well as gathering empirical data from the public, BCI users, and researchers. This will help ensure responsible and ethical development of BCI technology.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

42 articles

Evidence Level

Scoping Review

Key Findings

1
BCI raises ethical concerns regarding user safety, with invasive devices posing risks of infection and trauma. Non-invasive devices may also have unknown negative side effects, including the unknown reversibility of these side-effects.
2
The direct interaction between brains and machines brings questions about its effect on humanity and personhood along several dimensions, and some worry about BCI users becoming 'cyborgs'.
3
BCI development raises concerns about privacy and security, as BCI devices could reveal a variety of information, ranging from truthfulness, to psychological traits and mental states, to attitudes toward other people.

Research Summary

This scoping review of biomedical ethics literature identifies key ethical, legal, and social concerns related to BCI research and its potential therapeutic applications. Issues such as personhood, stigma, autonomy, privacy, research ethics, safety, responsibility, and justice are extensively enumerated. The review reveals a lack of concrete recommendations for addressing the identified ethical challenges, highlighting the need for practical solutions and empirical data on the perspectives of the public, BCI users, and BCI researchers. Future research should focus on developing practical solutions to the ethical challenges of BCI, alongside the collection of empirical data on the perspectives of the public, BCI users, and BCI researchers.

Practical Implications

Informed Consent Protocols

Develop robust informed consent protocols that address the unique challenges of BCI research, including therapeutic misconception and the vulnerability of potential participants.

Ethical Guidelines and Regulations

Create clear ethical guidelines and regulations for BCI research and development, addressing issues such as data privacy, security, and the potential for misuse.

Public Engagement and Education

Promote public engagement and education to foster a better understanding of BCI technology and its ethical implications, counteracting overhyped media portrayals and ensuring informed public discourse.

Study Limitations

1
The study was conducted using a single database (PubMed), potentially limiting the scope of the review.
2
The review focuses on frequently mentioned issues, potentially overlooking less common but equally important ethical concerns.
3
The review primarily addresses academic bioethics literature, potentially missing alternative cultural or methodological perspectives on BCIs.

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