{"id":9030,"date":"2023-03-24T15:24:22","date_gmt":"2023-03-24T15:24:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031\/?p=9030"},"modified":"2023-03-24T15:24:22","modified_gmt":"2023-03-24T15:24:22","slug":"neuroprosthesis-where-do-we-draw-the-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031\/2023\/03\/24\/neuroprosthesis-where-do-we-draw-the-line\/","title":{"rendered":"Neuroprosthesis – Where do we draw the line?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

After a long day of lectures, my housemates and I decided to watch a couple of episodes of Black Mirror on Netflix. This is an series based on the dangers of technological advancements in a dystopian near future. The scary aspect of Black Mirror is that the rationale and vision for these technological advancements portrayed in the series is highly compatible with our own. Even with good intentions such as curing disease and reducing crime, brings its own consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

We watched an episode whereby all your memories were recorded so that you could watch them back or could be used by police and authorities. In the show, it was originally designed to help with those suffering with Alzheimers, but now has evolved into something more sinister than intended. It brought up an ethical debate within our house on whether or not we would do it, as well as the topic of free will. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

We discussed that very few have an issue with prostheses to help with motor functions such as hip and knee replacements, prosthetic legs, and even replacement organs such as a pacemaker. However, what about prostheses in the brain? I am a Neuroscience student and realised there were very few examples of neuroprosthesis so, naturally, I was intrigued. The brain is one of the only organs in the body where we cannot get a transplant, and this is only explored in science fiction. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Crminal (2016) – A convict is implanted with a dead CIA agent’s memories to finish an assignment<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
\n
\"\"
Total Recall (1990) – A company that implants realistic false memories, and chooses one set on Mars where he is a Martian secret agent<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
\n
\"\"
Get Out (2017) – \u00a0A family transplants people’s brains into others’ bodies, granting them preferred physical characteristics and a twisted form of immortality<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

What are the current technological possibilities?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Elon Musk is currently developing a technology called ‘Neuralink’ that will give people with quadriplegia the ability to control computers and mobile devices with their thoughts. Fascinating!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/neuralink.com\/<\/a> – Read more about their approach and applications<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a podcast discussing the current breakthroughs in commercialising Brain-Computer Interfaces using a minimally implantation method and a soft electrode device. They explain how they received lots of support in the early stages of research, showing it to be an area of interest for investors. Their approach is to build on existing research and translating that into clinical practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n