Brain-computer interfaces and therapy

Donatella Mattia

Marco Molinari

pp. 49-59

in: Gerd Grübler, Elisabeth Hildt (eds), Brain-computer-interfaces in their ethical, social and cultural contexts, Berlin, Springer, 2014

Abstract

In recent times the idea that brain–computer interface (BCI) technology can be used to control brain mechanisms to sustain recovery and improve functions has been advanced and tested by different groups. This new development in BCI research and application raises ethical issues quite different from those previously addressed. After describing recent BCI-driven applications in neurological rehabilitation we focus on two main ethical issues stemming from present BCI therapeutic applications, namely the potential occurrence of iatrogenic effects because of potentiating maladaptive circuits and difficulties in addressing cognitive/behavioral performances in an uncontrolled loop.