Legal scholar Nita Farahany shares a heartbreaking experience, and guests explore topics such as rewriting traumatic memories, protecting privacy in the era of neurotechnology, the erosion of cognitive liberty, building a new type of personal computer, brain hacks and brain organoids, and living with epilepsy.
Decoded neurofeedback has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of conditions like PTSD and other neurological disorders by mapping the brain's pathways and overwriting traumatic memories with positive associations.
Advances in brain sensing technology raise ethical concerns regarding privacy, as the collection and sharing of highly sensitive brain data, reflecting one's mental states, emotions, and thoughts, can be misused or exploited if not safeguarded properly.
Deep dives
Neurotechnology and Decoded Neurofeedback
Neurotechnology has advanced to the point where it is now possible to monitor and guide brain activity. Decoded neurofeedback, for example, allows memories associated with trauma to be overwritten with more positive associations. This technique, which uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) to map the brain's pathways, has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of conditions like PTSD and other neurological disorders.
Brain Sensing Technology and Data Privacy
Advances in brain sensing technology have made it possible to track and analyze brain activity, emotions, and thoughts. Major tech companies are racing to develop brain sensors that can monitor health and even detect fatigue levels. However, the collection and sharing of brain data raise significant ethical concerns regarding privacy. Brain data, being highly sensitive and reflective of one's mental states, emotions, and thoughts, has the potential to be misused or exploited if not safeguarded properly.
Brain Organoids and Understanding Neurological Disorders
The creation and study of brain organoids, miniature brain-like structures grown from reprogrammed stem cells, offer new possibilities for understanding neurological disorders and developing treatments. By studying brain organoids derived from patients with conditions like autism and epilepsy, researchers gain insights into the molecular and genetic underpinnings of these disorders. This knowledge could lead to targeted therapies and personalized treatments for individuals with neurological conditions.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Epilepsy Treatment
Vagus nerve stimulation, a technique that involves implanting a device connected to the vagus nerve, has shown promising results in treating epilepsy. By providing small electrical pulses to the brain, this therapy can prevent seizures from occurring. This technology has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with epilepsy and give them greater control over their condition.
We're entering a new era of brain monitoring and enhancement, but what are the ethical implications? This hour, TED speakers explore the potential and pitfalls of merging our minds with machines. Guests include legal scholar and AI ethicist Nita Farahany, neurotechnologist and entrepreneur Conor Russomanno, neuroscientist and physician Sergiu Pașca and sous chef Kate Faulkner.
TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at plus.npr.org/ted.