Misuse of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology

Introduction

Cyberkinetics Inc. (Foxboro, MA)

Individuals with severe disabilities face challenges performing normal every-day tasks. Today, researchers are developing a technology that could conceivably alleviate many difficulties associated with physical handicaps.
Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology allows a living, healthy brain to connect to an external computer system through a chip composed of electrodes. The electrode chip can be implanted into defined positions within the motor cortex in order to capture the brain’s natural electric signals that stimulate voluntary movement. Researchers today can record the electrical activity of neurons firing and use computers to convert the signals into actions by applying signal processing algorithms. Significant and intensely competitive research in this field over the past decade, which one scientist has called an "arms race," has led to the first human BCI implantation surgery directed by Brown University professor, John Donoghue.
On June 22, 2004, Professor Donoghue’s team implanted an electrode into Matthew Nagle’s brain which today has allowed him, after extensive training, to perform activities like opening his email and turning on and off a TV using his thoughts alone. The success of the device has caused excitement in the field and has led many to contemplate the possible applications of BCI’s in the future.
At the same time, however, not everyone is as optimistic as Donoghue about the current technology. Some researchers criticize Donoghue's group for rushing in to human trials when BCIs are still crudely designed. Others see big picture ethical problems that could arise from this new kind of "mind control."
This web page will present developments in the BCI field, especially from within the Donoghue group, exploring what has led to human implantation and information about the surgical procedure itself, how the device translates thoughts into actions, what criticisms others have of BCIs, as well as what the future has in store for BCI technology.
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Controversy

http://neuro.duke.edu/Faculty/Nicolelis.htm

While Donoghue’s recent human implantation shows much promise it has also sparked much controversy from other researchers in the field, mostly led by Duke’s Miguel Nicolelis, and from bioethicists. These issues must be addressed in order for wide use of the technology to become a reality.


Criticism from a research standpoint:

• The human trial is a "stunt," says Miguel Nicolelis. Donoghue is more concerned with profits made by his company than overall benefit to the patient and to the research.
• The system does not work as well as advertised.
• Reading email and turning on a TV does not improve one’s quality of life dramatically .
• Other non-invasive methods could produce the same result; more applicability to quality of life is needed to justify surgical intervention.
• The electrodes are easily susceptible to obstruction with brain material, thus creating the need for multiple surgeries
• Implantation in a human overlooked what some, such as Miguel Nicolelis, believed are essential steps: "I think they skipped a couple of steps to make this ready for humans." Should something go wrong due to the surgery, the entire field would suffer major setbacks.¹

Criticism from an ethical standpoint:

• The military could potentially use this technology as a means of creating a superior weapon or designing the “super soldier.” This use could ultimately lead to the demise of more people than it helps
• If individuals without a disability attempt to use this technology to alter current abilities and senses, the device would create greater disparity among individuals. This use would raise issues related to cost and who has access to health care.
• Abuse of this technology could potentially threaten the privacy and autonomy of individuals if this technology is used to “read” someone else’s mind and possibly even control another human being like a robot.
  

Analysis:
This technology has shown a great deal of promise in whom it can help and what it can do. There is a potentially large patient population available and in addition, simple communication and control capabilities can be beneficial for those with severe motor disabilities. Donoghue's current trial shows that it can and does work. In order to create a more complete understanding, one must consider the drawbacks and challenges. The design needs additional development and further progress to create a more patient-friendly product. Ethically, a number of issues to explore and discuss exist. This technology has the potential of helping a large number of individuals and at the same time, if it were to be used beyond the purpose of its design, it would have a significantly negative impact on society as a whole. Realistically, at this point, the more immediate benefits of the technology outweigh the potential for misuse.
Something to think about:

John Donoghue, when asked about whether or not brain-computer interfaces will open the door to mind control:
"We do that all the time already. Advertising is mind control. Even pharmaceutical agents are a form of mind control. When people have behaviors that deviate extremely far from the norm, they are given medications that bring their mind back into the realm of behavior that we call normal. So we do it now. If a child were to have a seizure, and we controlled his mind so that he didn't have seizure, that would be a wonderful thing. We want to do that.
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SOURCE: visit http://biomed.brown.edu/Courses/BI108/BI108_2005_Groups/03/intro.htm
for full coverage.