Recent technological advances in electronic miniaturization, brain signal detection, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for data analysis pave the way to a better understanding of neurological and mental health disorders. Anticipated developments offer potential for health, communication, good regulation, and memory enhancements. This outlook has generated huge financial investments from the public and private sectors, bringing the technologies to patients and consumers more quickly. Other applications, outside the medical field, are developing rapidly for neuromarketing, gaming and entertainment, and military purposes. With the scientific and technological landscapes rapidly accelerating, a global and inclusive approach enabling their development remains a challenge.
- Why is this a topic policy makers should be interested in?
- What are the challenges they face preventing them to take action?
“GESDA began exploring the promise of neurotechnology as a result of the 2021 Science Breakthrough Radar and Summit and formed a task force to explore the topic further.
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“Scientists have long made use of neurotechnology but, with recent advances, there has been an explosion of new methods and devices.
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“Engineering, computer science and artificial intelligence (AI) will be used to process the massive amounts of data obtained from people’s brains and to decode it, raising questions of governance.
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“Only a few governments have the capacity, time and resources to deal with the governance questions, which is why GESDA can help by bringing diverse communities together.
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“Countries tend to have national laws regulating the data that’s collected by this technology, but consumer devices that use brain data may not be regulated.
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“The UN is mapping existing human rights treaties and surveying other information for the implications of future neurotechnology scenarios, some of which could occur soon.
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“The next stage in 2023 would be to develop and test the prototype for a new centre or “NeuroTech Compass” where scientists, policymakers and industry can gather.
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“Neurotechnology is a hotbed of legal concerns in the field of international human rights law.
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