Neurotechnology: Current Developments and Ethical Issues

Abstract

Neurotechnology is a fascinating and, at the same time, controversial field as one of its goals is to directly "wire up" human brains to machines. We should indeed expect to encounter such hybrid brain-machine systems more frequently in the future (see e.g., http://www.nature.com/nature/ focus/brain/index.html). Neurotechnology is defined as the assembly of methods and instruments that enable a direct connection of technical components with the nervous system. These technical components are electrodes, computers, or intelligent prostheses. They are meant to either record signals from the brain and "translate" them into technical control commands, or to manipulate brain activity by applying electrical or optical stimuli. Closed-loop interactions of readout and stimulation systems (control circuits) are subject of current research as well. In the following, we would like to offer some insight into the current state of basic and applied research, and possible clinical applications resulting from it. We will also address some of the ethical issues that emerge in the context of neurotechnology and describe some ongoing interdisciplinary research on brain-machine interfaces.