Dr Beth Parkin, Senior Lecturer in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Westminster, has co-authored a report for the European Commission on how EU policymakers can prepare for future applications of neurotechnology.
The report reviews emerging developments in neurotechnology, which is technology that can monitor, measure and modify central nervous system activity. This includes non-implanted neurotechnology, which are devices that measure brain activity from outside of the skull, as well as implanted neurotechnology, which measures brain activity from inside the skull.
Neurotechnology was originally developed for medical purposes, but advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and dry electrode technology have meant that brain sensors are now inserted into everyday wearable products. For example, Apple are developing AirPods with brain sensors. These products will have uses in industries including wellness, employment, education and entertainment, with popular applications for advanced sleep tracking, tracking attention and brain-computer interfaces for gaming purposes all appearing on the market.
Non-medical applications have wide ranging policy implications, as they are not controlled under medical device regulations. The report therefore provides a broad overview of potential future applications of these devices and poses a range of questions for the consideration of policymakers. For example, how governments can best safeguard mental privacy, especially as brain data can reveal private information about individuals’ mental states, even before they choose to share them.
The report highlights the need for laws and policies that pre-empt new developments in neurotechnology and aims to support the policymaking process by mapping emerging trends and highlighting important questions to guide informed policy decisions. This aims to avoid the problem governments have had with social media and AI of innovation first and regulation later.
About the report Dr Parkin said: “Over the past two decades, the largely unregulated evolution of technologies like social media and now with AI have resulted in many unforeseen impacts. Here we aim to learn from past lessons and explore how to responsibly shape the future development of neurotechnologies.”
This report contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3: Good Health and Well-being, 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
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