The Battle for Your Brain: Ethics of BCI

Session

Description: The field of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) is revolutionizing neuroscience and neuromodulation, unlocking unprecedented possibilities for restoring communication, movement, and other functions in patients with neurological impairments. This plenary session, Decoding the Mind: Breakthroughs and Ethics in BCI, will showcase transformative advances in BCI technology, from reenabling speech to controlling robotic limbs, while grappling with profound ethical questions these innovations raise.

This session will begin with a brief overview of how we are rapidly overcoming technical hurdles related to electrode design, hardware creation, and computational barriers in creating advanced BCI interfaces. Eddie Chang, a neurosurgeon and worldwide leader in speech BCI, will discuss his groundbreaking work unlocking the ability to communicate in patients with devastating neurological conditions affecting language. Richard Andersen, a neuroscientist and pioneer in developing novel BCI interfaces, will discuss his work in decoding movement intentions to restore functional independence in patients with spinal cord injury or stroke. Dr. Nita Farahany, a renowned neuroethicist and author of The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology, will deliver the keynote address, exploring the ethical imperatives of BCI, including privacy, autonomy, and cognitive liberty in clinical and societal contexts. Her talk will challenge attendees to consider how to balance rapid technological advancements with the protection of individual rights in an era of neural interfaces. The session will conclude with an engaging panel discussion with all speakers.