Neurotechnology by Giordano, James;

Short description:

New technologies that allow us to investigate mechanisms and functions of the brain have shown considerable promise in treating brain disease and injury. These emerging technologies also provide a means to assess and manipulate human consciousness, cognitions, emotions, and behaviors, bringing with them the potential to transform society. This volume explores the technical, moral, legal, and sociopolitical issues that arise in and from today’s applications of neuroscience and technology and discusses their implications for the future. Topics discussed include neurotechnology in education, neuroimaging and tissue implantation technology neuroprostheses, cyborg technology, and more.

Long description:

New technologies that allow us to investigate mechanisms and functions of the brain have shown considerable promise in treating brain disease and injury. These emerging technologies also provide a means to assess and manipulate human consciousness, cognitions, emotions, and behaviors, bringing with them the potential to transform society. Neurotechnology: Premises, Potential, and Problems explores the technical, moral, legal, and sociopolitical issues that arise in and from today’s applications of neuroscience and technology and discusses their implications for the future.

Some of the issues raised in this thought-provoking volume include:

• Neurotechnology in education: an enablement, a treatment, or an enhancement?


• The potential and limitations of neuroimaging technology in determining patient prognoses


• Tissue implantation technology as a way of engendering personalized medicine


• Neuroprostheses: restoration of functions of the disabled vs. enhancement to transhuman capabilities


• Deep brain stimulation and its use in restoring, preserving, or changing patients’ personal identity


• The benefit and risk of cognitive performance tools


• Cyborg technology and its potential to change our vision of humanity


• Methodologies for reducing the risk of neurotechnology’s impact on ethical, legal, and social issues

With contributions from an international group of experts working on the cutting edge of neurotechnology, this volume lays the groundwork to appreciate the ethical, legal, and social aspects of the science in ways that keep pace with this rapidly progressing field.

Table of Contents:

Neurotechnology as Demiurgical Force: Avoiding Icarus’ Folly. The Potential Utility of Advanced Sciences Convergence: Analytical Methods to Depict, Assess, and Forecast Trends in Neuroscience and Neurotechnological Developments and Uses. Is the Use of Neurotechnology in Education an Enablement, Treatment, or Enhancement? Images of Uncertainty: Two Cases. Neurogenetic and Neural Tissue-Implantation Technology: Neuroethical, Legal, and Social Issues Neuroprotective Agents Commonly Display Hormesis: Implications for Nanoneuropharmacology. Neuroprostheses: Implications of the Current and Future State of the Science and Technology. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Deep Brain Stimulation, and Personal Identity: Ethical Questions and Neuroethical Approaches for Medical Practice. Promises and Perils of Cognitive Performance Tools: A Dialogue. The Age of Neuroelectronics. Ethical Issues in Performance-Enhancing Technologies: From Bench to Headline The Cyborg and Cyborgization. Is Neuroenhancement Unnatural, and Does It Morally Matter? A Surety Engineering Framework and Process to Address Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues for Neurotechnologies. Neurotechnology, Culture, and the Need for a Cosmopolitan Neuroethics. Cognitive Enhancement, Analogical Reasoning, and Social Justice. Policy Implications of Technologies for Cognitive Enhancement. Neurotechnology Research and the World Stage: Ethics, Biopower, and Policy. Biotechnology: Who Benefits, Who Is Harmed?