Brain-Computer Interfaces: Medical and Industrial Applications, Neuroethical Problems, and Future Developmental Directions

Abstract

Since neurotechnology advances have made brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) stars, they have also brought unprecedented opportunities for medical rehabilitation, industrial human-machine collaboration, and cognitive enhancement, but have also produced very real and very important ethical issues. Hence, this paper reviews the applications of BCIs in medical rehabilitation and industry and their advantages in accessibility and productivity. This paper reviews the current BCI medical rehabilitation and industry applications, and their advantages in accessibility and productivity. The paper first examines major ethical issues of neuro-privacy and stigma, then reviews the progress of miniaturization, bidirectional interaction, and society acceptance, and on that basis puts forth a clear and compelling argument on strengthening the ethics and regulation regimes of BCI to facilitate its fair and beneficial use. It also gives an accessible introduction to BCI for general readers.