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Embedding Ethics in Neural Engineering
Published in Evelyn Brister, Robert Frodeman, A Guide to Field Philosophy, 2020
For the past six years, we have led the ethics “thrust” (i.e., group) in an National Science Foundation (NSF) funded engineering research center focused on neural engineering (the Center for Neurotechnology or CNT). In this chapter, we describe our experiences working collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of neuroscientists, electrical engineers, neurosurgeons, and rehabilitation clinicians to explore the ethical implications of innovative neural engineering research and development. Our story provides a case study of integrating ethics in a scientific project and lessons learned in the process. We identify team attributes such as flexibility, perseverance, creativity, reflexivity, vigilance, and humility as significant features that contributed to the effectiveness of our interdisciplinary collaboration, and share challenges we experienced that are likely to be faced by many philosophers considering such “fieldwork,” regardless of the specific focus or arena of practical research.
Advances in Neuroprosthetics
Published in Chang S. Nam, Anton Nijholt, Fabien Lotte, Brain–Computer Interfaces Handbook, 2018
At the nexus of this challenging endeavor is the rapidly growing field of neuroengineering (also referred to as neural engineering)—a subset of biomedical engineering, which blends biology, medicine, and engineering. Neuroengineering, in turn, integrates neuroscience and biomedical engineering to produce neuroprosthetics—a driving force in BCI research and development that has been defined as a technological device integrated into the neural circuitry of a human being can be sensory, motor, or cognitive in nature (Lebedev 2014).
Thinking Differently
Published in L. Syd M Johnson, Karen S. Rommelfanger, The Routledge Handbook of Neuroethics, 2017
Given how closely we identify with our thinking—indeed, with the central organ of our thinking, the brain—the idea of neural engineering is, to many people, a little unnerving. While we may appreciate and rely on engineering feats and devices outside of us (bridges, buildings, computers, cell phones, etc.) and even attached to us (prosthetics, insulin pumps, artificial hearts, etc.), many people balk at the idea of engineering the human brain. Why so? If we are asked to point to where we are, we typically point to our heads. We’re cognitive creatures; the brain is our “command center.” Engineering—which carries with it the connotation of invention and design, building and improving upon what we already have—seems risky, possibly arrogant, and likely to change something important about how we understand ourselves. If we can be engineered—if we can engineer our thinking or neurological processing by way of implanted devices, for example, deep brain stimulators or brain–computer interfaces—are we somehow more like machines? Or do we make ourselves into artifacts by turning our engineering skills on ourselves (President’s Council on Bioethics, 2003)?
Welcome to the 8th National Spinal Cord Injury conference!
Published in The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2019
Kristin E. Musselman, Tara Jeji, Peter Athanasopoulos, Milos R. Popovic
Embedded within the larger KITE organization, the Neural Engineering and Therapeutics (NET) Team (see Fig. 1) is housed at the Lyndhurst Centre, where scientists and clinicians work collaboratively with individuals living with SCI in inter professional settings to transform current therapies, technologies and services. The NET team scientists and their related laboratories and foci of work are shown in Fig. 2. This group has a legacy of implementing applied clinical research of relevance to individuals with SCI.