The promising perspectives on neuroenhancement technologies also overshadow the health risks at hand. It is proven that drug neurological stimulants, such as Adderall, can have horrible side effects that damage the human body for life. These effects include damage to brain cells containing serotonin, reduced levels of dopamine, cardiovascular collapse and even death (Nerri, 2014). Children prescribed this medication risk slowing their growth rate, resulting in future complication. Due to the fact that Adderall is also a Schedule II controlled substance, meaning the risk for addiction or abuse is high, causes even more concern and poses as a risk for neuro-enhancement.
There have been advocates that believe that enhancements that adjust behavior, like psychotherapy, have always be in the existence and performs the same way as neuroenhancers. They do not acknowledge or point out that there is a difference between the traditional methods of treatments and the neuroenhancements but the features of neuroenhancements show that they are observable.
Another risk involving non-biomedical uses of neuroenhancement devices for gaming and computer operating systems, which are connected to the mind, is the possibility that private information could be accessed with mental commands from the equipment, such as credit card pins and other sensitive information. In a study at Oxford University, a study of 28 subjects wore brain-machine interface devices designed by Neurosky and Emotie for gaming and attention exercises. They found that these devices are capable of sending hints from electrical signals of private information such as the location of their homes and Pin numbers. The electrical brain signal data contains neurological phenomena that activate subconscious activities. When subjects were given a map of locations, the head-set subjects brain’s showed hints to the experimenters to the determine the general location with an accuracy of 60% on the first try out of ten selections. Another study by a researcher at Brown University showed that paralytic patients with implanted brain sensors can control fine-grain software controls. The idea of hackers gaining information by implanting an app, such as game using a brain-machine that is downloaded and gives the perpetrator the ability to get the brain signal reading based on the visual stimuli.
In conclusion, the on-going debate about neuro-enhancement is based on the safety of children and adults that do not have autonomy, the justice, fairness and risks associated with this process. The effects of this technology is still unknown and the development is still young. The topic of neuro-enhancements is very controversial and has issues that will be in our society for centuries. All we can do is hope that our government and healthcare systems use this technology to do what is ethically and morally right.
References
'Mind-Control' Gaming Devices Leak Brain Data That Help Researchers Guess Users' Secrets. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2014, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/08/16/mind-control-gaming-devices-leak-brain-data-that-help-researchers-guess-users-secrets/
Nerri. (2014). Lets talk about the risks in neuroenhancement. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
from http://people.wku.edu/jan.garrett/ethics/kant.htm
There have been advocates that believe that enhancements that adjust behavior, like psychotherapy, have always be in the existence and performs the same way as neuroenhancers. They do not acknowledge or point out that there is a difference between the traditional methods of treatments and the neuroenhancements but the features of neuroenhancements show that they are observable.
Another risk involving non-biomedical uses of neuroenhancement devices for gaming and computer operating systems, which are connected to the mind, is the possibility that private information could be accessed with mental commands from the equipment, such as credit card pins and other sensitive information. In a study at Oxford University, a study of 28 subjects wore brain-machine interface devices designed by Neurosky and Emotie for gaming and attention exercises. They found that these devices are capable of sending hints from electrical signals of private information such as the location of their homes and Pin numbers. The electrical brain signal data contains neurological phenomena that activate subconscious activities. When subjects were given a map of locations, the head-set subjects brain’s showed hints to the experimenters to the determine the general location with an accuracy of 60% on the first try out of ten selections. Another study by a researcher at Brown University showed that paralytic patients with implanted brain sensors can control fine-grain software controls. The idea of hackers gaining information by implanting an app, such as game using a brain-machine that is downloaded and gives the perpetrator the ability to get the brain signal reading based on the visual stimuli.
In conclusion, the on-going debate about neuro-enhancement is based on the safety of children and adults that do not have autonomy, the justice, fairness and risks associated with this process. The effects of this technology is still unknown and the development is still young. The topic of neuro-enhancements is very controversial and has issues that will be in our society for centuries. All we can do is hope that our government and healthcare systems use this technology to do what is ethically and morally right.
References
'Mind-Control' Gaming Devices Leak Brain Data That Help Researchers Guess Users' Secrets. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2014, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/08/16/mind-control-gaming-devices-leak-brain-data-that-help-researchers-guess-users-secrets/
Nerri. (2014). Lets talk about the risks in neuroenhancement. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
from http://people.wku.edu/jan.garrett/ethics/kant.htm