Will people implant chips in their heads? The question posed by brain-computer interfaces
Brain implants and identity— is humanity determined by the brain, or by its union with the body? Check out the key issues now in the future opened up by BCI technology and Neuralink
The brain transplant premise in dramas is unrealistic, but it brings to mind the question of what determines human identity. This article examines philosophical and ethical issues such as whether the brain is the key to defining personhood, or whether its integration with the body is what matters.
Realworld neuroscience is far from the level of replacing the entire brain, but braincomputer interfaces (BCIs), which connect devices to the brain by inserting electrodes or chips, have already entered the industrial sector. This technology is drawing attention for its potential to increase the autonomy of people who have lost physical functions due to conditions such as cerebral palsy, Lou Gehrig's disease, and spinal cord injuries.
The reason venture capital is also flowing into neurotechnology companies like Elon Musk's Neuralink is tied to these expectations. However, what effect technological advances will have on the human body and identity remains a topic that will require more discussion in the future.