Projections and the Potential Societal Impact of the Future of Neurotechnologies.

Traditionally, recording from and stimulating the brain with high spatial and temporal resolution required invasive means. However, recently, the technical capabilities of less invasive and non-invasive neuro-interfacing technology have been dramatically improving, and laboratories and funders aim to further improve these capabilities. These technologies can facilitate functions such as multi-person communication, mood regulation and memory recall. We consider a potential future where the less invasive technology is in high demand. Will this demand match that the current-day demand for a smartphone? Here, we draw upon existing research to project which particular neuroethics issues may arise in this potential future and what preparatory steps may be taken to address these issues.
Competing Interests: DE was employed by Neurosensory, Inc. and Braincheck. KG was employed by Kilpatrick Townsend and Stockton LLP. AB was employed by The Substrate Group. KT was employed by Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), A Xerox Company. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
(Copyright © 2021 Gaudry, Ayaz, Bedows, Celnik, Eagleman, Grover, Illes, Rao, Robinson, Thyagarajan and The Working Group on Brain-Interfacing Devices in 2040.)