Hunter Adam

T. Coleman

Section 109

10/16/2020

Tentative Argument

There are many arguments stating that neurotechnology can be such a blessing to the

medical field. This statement may be true but there are other problems to consider first. There

is a concern with privacy that needs to be researched more before there is a continuation in the

design of the product.

Scholarly Articles

L. Drew, “The ethics of brain–computer interfaces,” Nature News, 24-Jul-2019. [Online].

Available: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02214-2. [Accessed: 15-Oct-

2020].

Liam Drew is the author of this article as well as many other articles in the neuroscience,

biomedical research, and evolutionary biology departments. Before Liam was a writer, he was

a neurobiologist with a PhD from University College London. The article, The Ethics of Brain-

computer interfaces”, is very informative in the applications and ethics of neurotechnology. The

article focus mostly on what measures are being taken to ensure the advancement in the
technology is going to be ethical. One of the many issues that Liam Drew brings up is the idea

that neurotechnology can violate privacy which he states is a concern being addressed by the

developers. This article is in support of advancements in neurotechnology but is also in support

of doing so safely.

S. Steinert and O. Friedrich, “Wired Emotions: Ethical Issues of Affective Brain-Computer

Interfaces,” Science and engineering ethics, Feb-2020. [Online]. Available:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6978299/. [Accessed: 15-Oct-2020].

Steffen Steinert works in the philosophy of technology and ethics of technology

departments at Delft University of Technology. Orsolya friedrich is a researcher in philosophy

and ethics as well. Her research also reaches out to neuroethics and medical ethics allowing her

to have great knowledge in the topic at hand. Both Steffen and Orsolya have PhDs in their

respective fields making this a scholarly article. In the article, Steffen and Orsolya bring in their

experience with emotion to explain how neurotechnology can effectively change people’s

emotions. Being able to read and write different emotions can help in both the medical and

personal world as shown in the article. They then go into the ethical dilemmas associated with

changing people’s emotions. This article is very much tailor to people who have an

understanding as to what this technology is capable of including, economists, engineers and

even biologists. Much of the material in this article is scientific and accurate, cited information

instead of information made up through intuition.

Kögel, J., Jox, R.J. & Friedrich, O. What is it like to use a BCI? – insights from an interview study

with brain-computer interface users. BMC Med Ethics 21, 2 (2020).

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-019-0442-2

Johannes Kogel is a research assistant at the Institute of Ethics, History and Theory of

Medicine. Ralph Jox is a bioethicist and neurologist Associate Professor at Lausanne University

Hospital. Orsolya friedrich is a researcher in philosophy and ethics who also wrote one of the

articles previously stated. Because of the authors’ backgrounds in ethics, this article heavily

discusses the ethical problems with having technology inside our brains. This seems to be

tailored to those that have a preexisting knowledge of neurotechnology but want to know more

about the impact it might have on our lives. This article also states that not much research has

been done in this field and that more will follow. This just shows that what neurotechnology is

capable is still up in the air and ready to be discovered.

A. Nippert, “Connecting brains to machines may let bacteria come along for the ride,” Massive

Science, 15-Dec-2019. [Online]. Available: https://massivesci.com/articles/brain-machine-

interface-bmi-elon-mulk-neuralink-mind-control/. [Accessed: 16-Oct-2020].

 This article was written by Amy Nippert who has is a neuroscientist at the University of

Minnesota. Her background in the neurosciences has allowed her to examine Elon Musk’s plans

with his neurotechnology and the problems that may occur. Elon Musk has had many claims

about his technology that Amy Nippert became skeptical of and gave a great explanation as to

why these concerns should be evaluated. Her main concern is that there are many oversights

that need to be researched more fully and understood better. She believes that too many of the

concerns are being neglected and need to be brought up before the technology begins to make

its way into anyone else’s hands. I believe this article is written to raise awareness about the

possible bad outcomes that need to be thought through.

Unscholarly Articles

E. Lopatto, “Elon Musk unveils Neuralink's plans for brain-reading 'threads' and a robot to insert

them,” The Verge, 17-Jul-2019. [Online]. Available:

https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/16/20697123/elon-musk-neuralink-brain-reading-

thread-robot. [Accessed: 15-Oct-2020].

Elizabeth Lopatto is the deputy editor of “the Verge”, a science and technology platform. I

was unable to find very much information on Elizabeth Lopatto which means I cannot
comfortably classify this as a scholarly article. However, this article has some interesting views

in the advancements of neurotechnology, expressing certain interest in Elon Musk’s

presentation. Elizabeth focused a great deal on how the advancements in Elon Musk’s

technology has the ability to advance medical practice in the future. She also emphasizes on

how the technology is going to work and how we can use it ourselves. It seems that this article

is tailored more towards people that have not ever heard of neurotechnology instead of those

that want to know more about the ethical expectations.

C. Linder, “Why Is Elon Musk Testing His Brain Implant on Pigs?,” Popular Mechanics, 09-Sep-

2020. [Online]. Available:

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/animals/a33850122/neuralink-brain-

implant-animal-testing-pigs/. [Accessed: 16-Oct-2020].

Courtney Linder is an economics and English major from the University of Pittsburg. She

does not have a degree in anything technology nor a degree in neurobiology, but she still has a

skeptical mindset. In this article, she explains the fact that it is peculiar that Elon Musk would

decide to do tests on pigs instead of Apes, who resemble more of a human brain. She noticed

the fact that Elon Musk disregarded the statement and from there she came to conclusions

about the safety of the product. She also has a large scientific based information which is

tailored to the fact that she believes there is more to uncover. In order to proceed with the
advancements in this technology, Courtney would like more research to be done and more

answers given.