1
|
Starke G, Akmazoglu TB, Colucci A, Vermehren M, van Beinum A, Buthut M, Soekadar SR, Bublitz C, Chandler JA, Ienca M. Qualitative studies involving users of clinical neurotechnology: a scoping review. BMC Med Ethics 2024; 25:89. [PMID: 39138452 PMCID: PMC11323440 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-024-01087-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rise of a new generation of intelligent neuroprostheses, brain-computer interfaces (BCI) and adaptive closed-loop brain stimulation devices hastens the clinical deployment of neurotechnologies to treat neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. However, it remains unclear how these nascent technologies may impact the subjective experience of their users. To inform this debate, it is crucial to have a solid understanding how more established current technologies already affect their users. In recent years, researchers have used qualitative research methods to explore the subjective experience of individuals who become users of clinical neurotechnology. Yet, a synthesis of these more recent findings focusing on qualitative methods is still lacking. METHODS To address this gap in the literature, we systematically searched five databases for original research articles that investigated subjective experiences of persons using or receiving neuroprosthetics, BCIs or neuromodulation with qualitative interviews and raised normative questions. RESULTS 36 research articles were included and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Our findings synthesise the current scientific literature and reveal a pronounced focus on usability and other technical aspects of user experience. In parallel, they highlight a relative neglect of considerations regarding agency, self-perception, personal identity and subjective experience. CONCLUSIONS Our synthesis of the existing qualitative literature on clinical neurotechnology highlights the need to expand the current methodological focus as to investigate also non-technical aspects of user experience. Given the critical role considerations of agency, self-perception and personal identity play in assessing the ethical and legal significance of these technologies, our findings reveal a critical gap in the existing literature. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the current qualitative research landscape on neurotechnology and the limitations thereof. These findings can inform researchers on how to study the subjective experience of neurotechnology users more holistically and build patient-centred neurotechnology.
Collapse
Grants
- HYBRIDMIND (SNSF 32NE30_199436; BMBF, 01GP2121A and -B), ERA-NET NEURON
- HYBRIDMIND (SNSF 32NE30_199436; BMBF, 01GP2121A and -B), ERA-NET NEURON
- HYBRIDMIND (SNSF 32NE30_199436; BMBF, 01GP2121A and -B), ERA-NET NEURON
- HYBRIDMIND (SNSF 32NE30_199436; BMBF, 01GP2121A and -B), ERA-NET NEURON
- HYBRIDMIND (SNSF 32NE30_199436; BMBF, 01GP2121A and -B), ERA-NET NEURON
- HYBRIDMIND (SNSF 32NE30_199436; BMBF, 01GP2121A and -B), ERA-NET NEURON
- HYBRIDMIND (SNSF 32NE30_199436; BMBF, 01GP2121A and -B), ERA-NET NEURON
- HYBRIDMIND (SNSF 32NE30_199436; BMBF, 01GP2121A and -B), ERA-NET NEURON
- HYBRIDMIND (SNSF 32NE30_199436; BMBF, 01GP2121A and -B), ERA-NET NEURON
- HYBRIDMIND (SNSF 32NE30_199436; BMBF, 01GP2121A and -B), ERA-NET NEURON
- NGBMI (759370) European Research Council (ERC)
- NGBMI (759370) European Research Council (ERC)
- NGBMI (759370) European Research Council (ERC)
- NGBMI (759370) European Research Council (ERC)
- SSMART (01DR21025A), NEO (13GW0483C), QHMI (03ZU1110DD), QSHIFT (01UX2211) and NeuroQ (13N16486) Federal Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF)
- SSMART (01DR21025A), NEO (13GW0483C), QHMI (03ZU1110DD), QSHIFT (01UX2211) and NeuroQ (13N16486) Federal Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF)
- SSMART (01DR21025A), NEO (13GW0483C), QHMI (03ZU1110DD), QSHIFT (01UX2211) and NeuroQ (13N16486) Federal Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF)
- SSMART (01DR21025A), NEO (13GW0483C), QHMI (03ZU1110DD), QSHIFT (01UX2211) and NeuroQ (13N16486) Federal Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF)
- A-2019-558 Einstein Foundation Berlin
- A-2019-558 Einstein Foundation Berlin
- A-2019-558 Einstein Foundation Berlin
- A-2019-558 Einstein Foundation Berlin
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Georg Starke
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for History and Ethics of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
- College of Humanities, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | | | - Annalisa Colucci
- Clinical Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at the Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mareike Vermehren
- Clinical Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at the Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Amanda van Beinum
- Centre for Health Law Policy and Ethics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Maria Buthut
- Clinical Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at the Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Surjo R Soekadar
- Clinical Neurotechnology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at the Charité Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jennifer A Chandler
- Bertram Loeb Research Chair, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Marcello Ienca
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for History and Ethics of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- College of Humanities, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Higgins N, Gardner J, Wexler A, Kellmeyer P, O'Brien K, Carter A. Post-trial access to implantable neural devices: an exploratory international survey. BMJ SURGERY, INTERVENTIONS, & HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES 2024; 6:e000262. [PMID: 38646454 PMCID: PMC11029395 DOI: 10.1136/bmjsit-2024-000262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Clinical trials of innovative neural implants are rapidly increasing and diversifying, but little is known about participants' post-trial access to the device and ongoing clinical care. This exploratory study examines common practices in the planning and coordination of post-trial access to neurosurgical devices. We also explore the perspectives of trial investigators on the barriers to post-trial access and ongoing care, as well as ethical questions related to the responsibilities of key stakeholder groups. Design setting and participants Trial investigators (n=66) completed a survey on post-trial access in the most recent investigational trial of a surgically implanted neural device they had conducted. Survey respondents predominantly specialized in neurosurgery, neurology and psychiatry, with a mean of 14.8 years of experience working with implantable neural devices. Main outcome measures Outcomes of interest included rates of device explantation during or at the conclusion of the trial (pre-follow-up) and whether plans for post-trial access were described in the study protocol. Outcomes also included investigators' greatest 'barrier' and 'facilitator' to providing research participants with post-trial access to functional implants and perspectives on current arrangements for the sharing of post-trial responsibilities among key stakeholders. Results Trial investigators reported either 'all' (64%) or 'most' (33%) trial participants had remained implanted after the end of the trial, with 'infection' and 'non-response' the most common reasons for explantation. When asked to describe the main barriers to facilitating post-trial access, investigators described limited funding, scarcity of expertise and specialist clinical infrastructure and difficulties maintaining stakeholder relationships. Notwithstanding these barriers, investigators overwhelmingly (95%) agreed there is an ethical obligation to provide post-trial access when participants individually benefit during the trial. Conclusions On occasions when devices were explanted during or at the end of the trial, this was done out of concern for the safety and well-being of participants. Further research into common practices in the post-trial phase is needed and essential to ethical and pragmatic discussions regarding stakeholder responsibilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Higgins
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - John Gardner
- School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Monash Bioethics Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anna Wexler
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Philipp Kellmeyer
- University of Mannheim School of Business Informatics and Mathematics, Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Kerry O'Brien
- School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adrian Carter
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Monash Bioethics Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- School of Philosophical, Historical, and International Studies, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Livanis E, Voultsos P, Vadikolias K, Pantazakos P, Tsaroucha A. Understanding the Ethical Issues of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs): A Blessing or the Beginning of a Dystopian Future? Cureus 2024; 16:e58243. [PMID: 38745805 PMCID: PMC11091939 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, scientific discoveries in the field of neuroscience combined with developments in the field of artificial intelligence have led to the development of a range of neurotechnologies. Advances in neuroimaging systems, neurostimulators, and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are leading to new ways of enhancing, controlling, and "reading" the brain. In addition, although BCIs were developed and used primarily in the medical field, they are now increasingly applied in other fields (entertainment, marketing, education, defense industry). We conducted a literature review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to provide background information about ethical issues related to the use of BCIs. Among the ethical issues that emerged from the thematic data analysis of the reviewed studies included questions revolving around human dignity, personhood and autonomy, user safety, stigma and discrimination, privacy and security, responsibility, research ethics, and social justice (including access to this technology). This paper attempts to address the various aspects of these concerns. A variety of distinct ethical issues were identified, which, for the most part, were in line with the findings of prior research. However, we identified two nuances, which are related to the empirical research on ethical issues related to BCIs and the impact of BCIs on international relationships. The paper also highlights the need for the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure the ethical development and use of this technology and concludes with several recommendations. The principles of bioethics provide an initial guiding framework, which, however, should be revised in the current artificial intelligence landscape so as to be responsive to challenges posed by the development and use of BCIs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Efstratios Livanis
- Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, GRC
- Postgraduate Program on Bioethics, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupoli, GRC
| | - Polychronis Voultsos
- Laboratory of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology (Medical Law and Ethics) School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GRC
- Postgraduate Program on Bioethics, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupoli, GRC
| | - Konstantinos Vadikolias
- Postgraduate Program on Bioethics, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupoli, GRC
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupoli, GRC
| | - Panagiotis Pantazakos
- Department of Philosophy, School of Philosophy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC
- Postgraduate Program on Bioethics, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupoli, GRC
| | - Alexandra Tsaroucha
- Postgraduate Program on Bioethics, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupoli, GRC
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Goering S, Brown AI, Klein E. Brain Pioneers and Moral Entanglement: An Argument for Post-trial Responsibilities in Neural-Device Trials. Hastings Cent Rep 2024; 54:24-33. [PMID: 38390679 PMCID: PMC11060429 DOI: 10.1002/hast.1566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
We argue that in implanted neurotechnology research, participants and researchers experience what Henry Richardson has called "moral entanglement." Participants partially entrust researchers with access to their brains and thus to information that would otherwise be private, leading to created intimacies and special obligations of beneficence for researchers and research funding agencies. One of these obligations, we argue, is about continued access to beneficial technology once a trial ends. We make the case for moral entanglement in this context through exploration of participants' vulnerability, uncompensated risks and burdens, depth of relationship with the research team, and dependence on researchers in implanted neurotechnology trials.
Collapse
|
5
|
Chen SC, Bluhm R, Achtyes ED, McCright AM, Cabrera LY. Looking through the lens of stigma: Understanding and anticipating concerns about the responsible development and use of psychiatric electroceutical interventions (PEIs). SSM - MENTAL HEALTH 2023; 4:100261. [PMID: 38188866 PMCID: PMC10768967 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2023.100261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Psychiatric electroceutical interventions (PEIs) show promise for treating depression, but few studies have examined stakeholders' views on them. Using interview data and survey data that analyzed the views of psychiatrists, patients, caregivers, and the general public, a conceptual map was created to represent stakeholders' views on four PEIs: electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), and adaptive brain implants (ABIs). Stigma emerged as a key theme connecting diverse views, revealing that it is a significant factor in the acceptance and usage of PEIs. Stigma not only discourages seeking mental health services for depression but also inhibits the acceptance of PEIs. Addressing the pervasive and complex effects of stigma highlights the need to change societal attitudes toward mental illnesses and their treatments and to provide support to patients who may benefit from these interventions. The map also demonstrates the value of conceptual mapping for anticipating and mitigating ethical considerations in the development and use of PEIs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Robyn Bluhm
- Michigan State University, Lyman Briggs and Philosophy, USA
| | | | | | - Laura Y. Cabrera
- Pennsylvania State University, Department of Engineering and Mechanics and Rock Ethics Institute, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Fried-Oken M, Kinsella M, Stevens I, Klein E. What stakeholders with neurodegenerative conditions value about speech and accuracy in development of BCI systems for communication. BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACES 2023; 11:21-32. [PMID: 39301184 PMCID: PMC11409582 DOI: 10.1080/2326263x.2023.2283345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
This research examined values of individuals with neurodegenerative conditions about features of speed and accuracy as they consider potential use of augmentative and alternative communication brain-computer interface systems (AAC-BCI). Sixty-six individuals with neurodegenerative disease responded to prompts about six hypothetical ethical vignettes. Data were analyzed with qualitative content analysis. The following themes emerged. (1) Disease progression may contribute to the trade-off between speed and accuracy with AAC-BCI systems. (2) Individual experiences with technology use inform their views about the speed-accuracy trade-off. (3) There is a range of views about how slow or inaccurate communication may impact relationships, the integrity of a message, and quality of life. (4) Design solutions are proposed to address trade-offs in AAC-BCI systems. With the rapid development of AAC-BCI systems, user-centered design must integrate values of potential end-users illustrating that context, partner, message, and environment impact the prioritization of speed or accuracy in any communication exchange.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Fried-Oken
- Institute on Development and Disability, Oregon Health & Science University
| | - Michelle Kinsella
- Institute on Development and Disability, Oregon Health & Science University
| | - Ian Stevens
- Department of Neurosurgery, Oregon Health & Science University
| | - Eran Klein
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Milford SR, Shaw D, Starke G. Playing Brains: The Ethical Challenges Posed by Silicon Sentience and Hybrid Intelligence in DishBrain. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2023; 29:38. [PMID: 37882881 PMCID: PMC10602981 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-023-00457-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
The convergence of human and artificial intelligence is currently receiving considerable scholarly attention. Much debate about the resulting Hybrid Minds focuses on the integration of artificial intelligence into the human brain through intelligent brain-computer interfaces as they enter clinical use. In this contribution we discuss a complementary development: the integration of a functional in vitro network of human neurons into an in silico computing environment.To do so, we draw on a recent experiment reporting the creation of silico-biological intelligence as a case study (Kagan et al., 2022b). In this experiment, multielectrode arrays were plated with stem cell-derived human neurons, creating a system which the authors call DishBrain. By embedding the system into a virtual game-world, neural clusters were able to receive electrical input signals from the game-world and to respond appropriately with output signals from pre-assigned motor regions. Using this design, the authors demonstrate how the DishBrain self-organises and successfully learns to play the computer game 'Pong', exhibiting 'sentient' and intelligent behaviour in its virtual environment.The creation of such hybrid, silico-biological intelligence raises numerous ethical challenges. Following the neuroscientific framework embraced by the authors themselves, we discuss the arising ethical challenges in the context of Karl Friston's Free Energy Principle, focusing on the risk of creating synthetic phenomenology. Following the DishBrain's creator's neuroscientific assumptions, we highlight how DishBrain's design may risk bringing about artificial suffering and argue for a congruently cautious approach to such synthetic biological intelligence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R Milford
- Department of Theology, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
- Institute for Biomedical Ethics, Basel University, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - David Shaw
- Institute for Biomedical Ethics, Basel University, Basel, Switzerland
- Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Georg Starke
- College of Humanities, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute for History and Ethics of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Munich School of Philosophy, Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Yuste R. Advocating for neurodata privacy and neurotechnology regulation. Nat Protoc 2023; 18:2869-2875. [PMID: 37697107 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-023-00873-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
The ability to record and alter brain activity by using implantable and nonimplantable neural devices, while poised to have significant scientific and clinical benefits, also raises complex ethical concerns. In this Perspective, we raise awareness of the ability of artificial intelligence algorithms and data-aggregation tools to decode and analyze data containing highly sensitive information, jeopardizing personal neuroprivacy. Voids in existing regulatory frameworks, in fact, allow unrestricted decoding and commerce of neurodata. We advocate for the implementation of proposed ethical and human rights guidelines, alongside technical options such as data encryption, differential privacy and federated learning to ensure the protection of neurodata privacy. We further encourage regulatory bodies to consider taking a position of responsibility by categorizing all brain-derived data as sensitive health data and apply existing medical regulations to all data gathered via pre-registered neural devices. Lastly, we propose that a technocratic oath may instill a deontology for neurotechnology practitioners akin to what the Hippocratic oath represents in medicine. A conscientious societal position that thoroughly rejects the misuse of neurodata would provide the moral compass for the future development of the neurotechnology field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Yuste
- Neurotechnology Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zuk P, Sanchez CE, Kostick-Quenet K, Muñoz KA, Kalwani L, Lavingia R, Torgerson L, Sierra-Mercado D, Robinson JO, Pereira S, Outram S, Koenig BA, McGuire AL, Lázaro-Muñoz G. Researcher Views on Changes in Personality, Mood, and Behavior in Next-Generation Deep Brain Stimulation. AJOB Neurosci 2023; 14:287-299. [PMID: 35435795 PMCID: PMC9639000 DOI: 10.1080/21507740.2022.2048724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The literature on deep brain stimulation (DBS) and adaptive DBS (aDBS) raises concerns that these technologies may affect personality, mood, and behavior. We conducted semi-structured interviews with researchers (n = 23) involved in developing next-generation DBS systems, exploring their perspectives on ethics and policy topics including whether DBS/aDBS can cause such changes. The majority of researchers reported being aware of personality, mood, or behavioral (PMB) changes in recipients of DBS/aDBS. Researchers offered varying estimates of the frequency of PMB changes. A smaller majority reported changes in personality specifically. Some expressed reservations about the scientific status of the term 'personality,' while others used it freely. Most researchers discussed negative PMB changes, but a majority said that DBS/aDBS can also result in positive changes. Several researchers viewed positive PMB changes as part of the therapeutic goal in psychiatric applications of DBS/aDBS. Finally, several discussed potential causes of PMB changes other than the device itself.
Collapse
|
10
|
Brennan C. Weak transhumanism: moderate enhancement as a non-radical path to radical enhancement. THEORETICAL MEDICINE AND BIOETHICS 2023; 44:229-248. [PMID: 36780070 PMCID: PMC10172256 DOI: 10.1007/s11017-023-09606-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Transhumanism aims to bring about radical human enhancement. In 'Truly Human Enhancement' Agar (2014) provides a strong argument against producing radically enhancing effects in agents. This leaves the transhumanist in a quandary-how to achieve radical enhancement whilst avoiding the problem of radically enhancing effects? This paper aims to show that transhumanism can overcome the worries of radically enhancing effects by instead pursuing radical human enhancement via incremental moderate human enhancements (Weak Transhumanism). In this sense, weak transhumanism is much like traditional transhumanism in its aims, but starkly different in its execution. This version of transhumanism is weaker given the limitations brought about by having to avoid radically enhancing effects. I consider numerous objections to weak transhumanism and conclude that the account survives each one. This paper's proposal of 'weak transhumanism' has the upshot of providing a way out of the 'problem of radically enhancing effects' for the transhumanist, but this comes at a cost-the restrictive process involved in applying multiple moderate enhancements in order to achieve radical enhancement will most likely be dissatisfying for the transhumanist, however, it is, I contend, the best option available.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cian Brennan
- University of Glasgow, Philosophy department, Glasgow, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Boulicault M, Goering S, Klein E, Dougherty D, Widge AS. The Role of Family Members in Psychiatric Deep Brain Stimulation Trials: More Than Psychosocial Support. NEUROETHICS-NETH 2023; 16:14. [PMID: 37250273 PMCID: PMC10212803 DOI: 10.1007/s12152-023-09520-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Family members can provide crucial support to individuals participating in clinical trials. In research on the "newest frontier" of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)-the use of DBS for psychiatric conditions-family member support is frequently listed as a criterion for trial enrollment. Despite the significance of family members, qualitative ethics research on DBS for psychiatric conditions has focused almost exclusively on the perspectives and experiences of DBS recipients. This qualitative study is one of the first to include both DBS recipients and their family members as interview participants. Using dyadic thematic analysis-an approach that takes both the individuals and the relationship as units of analyses-this study analyzes the complex ways in which family relationships can affect DBS trial participation, and how DBS trial participation in turn influences family relationships. Based on these findings, we propose ways to improve study designs to better take family relationships into account, and better support family members in taking on the complex, essential roles that they play in DBS trials for psychiatric conditions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12152-023-09520-7.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marion Boulicault
- Department of Philosophy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Sara Goering
- Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
- Department of Philosophy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Eran Klein
- Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, Portland, OR USA
| | - Darin Dougherty
- Neurotherapeutics Division, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Alik S. Widge
- Medical Discovery Team on Addiction, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Klein E, Montes Daza N, Dasgupta I, MacDuffie K, Schönau A, Flynn G, Song D, Goering S. Views of stakeholders at risk for dementia about deep brain stimulation for cognition. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:742-747. [PMID: 37076043 PMCID: PMC10576447 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eran Klein
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, L226, Portland, OR, 97239-3098, United States; Department of Philosophy, University of Washington, Savery Hall, Room 361, Box 353350, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States.
| | - Natalia Montes Daza
- Department of Philosophy, University of Washington, Savery Hall, Room 361, Box 353350, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
| | - Ishan Dasgupta
- The Dana Foundation, 1270 Avenue of the Americas, 12th Floor, New York, NY, 10020, United States
| | - Kate MacDuffie
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 Ninth Ave. Seattle, WA, 98101, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Bioethics and Palliative Care, University of Washington School of Medicine, PO Box 5371, Seattle, WA, 98105, United States
| | - Andreas Schönau
- Department of Philosophy, University of Washington, Savery Hall, Room 361, Box 353350, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
| | - Garrett Flynn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, 1042 Downey Way, Denney Research Center (DRB) 140, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-1111, United States
| | - Dong Song
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, 1042 Downey Way, Denney Research Center (DRB) 140, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-1111, United States
| | - Sara Goering
- Department of Philosophy, University of Washington, Savery Hall, Room 361, Box 353350, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Hitti FL, Widge AS, Riva-Posse P, Malone DA, Okun MS, Shanechi MM, Foote KD, Lisanby SH, Ankudowich E, Chivukula S, Chang EF, Gunduz A, Hamani C, Feinsinger A, Kubu CS, Chiong W, Chandler JA, Carbunaru R, Cheeran B, Raike RS, Davis RA, Halpern CH, Vanegas-Arroyave N, Markovic D, Bick SK, McIntyre CC, Richardson RM, Dougherty DD, Kopell BH, Sweet JA, Goodman WK, Sheth SA, Pouratian N. Future directions in psychiatric neurosurgery: Proceedings of the 2022 American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery meeting on surgical neuromodulation for psychiatric disorders. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:867-878. [PMID: 37217075 PMCID: PMC11189296 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite advances in the treatment of psychiatric diseases, currently available therapies do not provide sufficient and durable relief for as many as 30-40% of patients. Neuromodulation, including deep brain stimulation (DBS), has emerged as a potential therapy for persistent disabling disease, however it has not yet gained widespread adoption. In 2016, the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (ASSFN) convened a meeting with leaders in the field to discuss a roadmap for the path forward. A follow-up meeting in 2022 aimed to review the current state of the field and to identify critical barriers and milestones for progress. DESIGN The ASSFN convened a meeting on June 3, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia and included leaders from the fields of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry along with colleagues from industry, government, ethics, and law. The goal was to review the current state of the field, assess for advances or setbacks in the interim six years, and suggest a future path forward. The participants focused on five areas of interest: interdisciplinary engagement, regulatory pathways and trial design, disease biomarkers, ethics of psychiatric surgery, and resource allocation/prioritization. The proceedings are summarized here. CONCLUSION The field of surgical psychiatry has made significant progress since our last expert meeting. Although weakness and threats to the development of novel surgical therapies exist, the identified strengths and opportunities promise to move the field through methodically rigorous and biologically-based approaches. The experts agree that ethics, law, patient engagement, and multidisciplinary teams will be critical to any potential growth in this area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frederick L Hitti
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Alik S Widge
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Patricio Riva-Posse
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Donald A Malone
- Department of Psychiatry, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Michael S Okun
- Department of Neurology, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Maryam M Shanechi
- Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kelly D Foote
- Department of Neurosurgery, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sarah H Lisanby
- Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Elizabeth Ankudowich
- Division of Translational Research, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Srinivas Chivukula
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Edward F Chang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Aysegul Gunduz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Fixel Institute for Neurological Disorders, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Clement Hamani
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Centre, Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ashley Feinsinger
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Cynthia S Kubu
- Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Winston Chiong
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer A Chandler
- Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, USA; Affiliate Investigator, Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, USA
| | | | | | - Robert S Raike
- Global Research Organization, Medtronic Inc. Neuromodulation, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Rachel A Davis
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Casey H Halpern
- Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Cpl Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Dejan Markovic
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sarah K Bick
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Cameron C McIntyre
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Neurosurgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - R Mark Richardson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Darin D Dougherty
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian H Kopell
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Neuromodulation, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer A Sweet
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Wayne K Goodman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavior Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sameer A Sheth
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nader Pouratian
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Basu I, Yousefi A, Crocker B, Zelmann R, Paulk AC, Peled N, Ellard KK, Weisholtz DS, Cosgrove GR, Deckersbach T, Eden UT, Eskandar EN, Dougherty DD, Cash SS, Widge AS. Closed-loop enhancement and neural decoding of cognitive control in humans. Nat Biomed Eng 2023; 7:576-588. [PMID: 34725508 PMCID: PMC9056584 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00804-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Deficits in cognitive control-that is, in the ability to withhold a default pre-potent response in favour of a more adaptive choice-are common in depression, anxiety, addiction and other mental disorders. Here we report proof-of-concept evidence that, in participants undergoing intracranial epilepsy monitoring, closed-loop direct stimulation of the internal capsule or striatum, especially the dorsal sites, enhances the participants' cognitive control during a conflict task. We also show that closed-loop stimulation upon the detection of lapses in cognitive control produced larger behavioural changes than open-loop stimulation, and that task performance for single trials can be directly decoded from the activity of a small number of electrodes via neural features that are compatible with existing closed-loop brain implants. Closed-loop enhancement of cognitive control might remediate underlying cognitive deficits and aid the treatment of severe mental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ishita Basu
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ali Yousefi
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Computer Science and Neuroscience, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Britni Crocker
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rina Zelmann
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Angelique C Paulk
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Noam Peled
- Department of Radiology, MGH/HST Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kristen K Ellard
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - G Rees Cosgrove
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Brigham & Womens Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thilo Deckersbach
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Uri T Eden
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emad N Eskandar
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Darin D Dougherty
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sydney S Cash
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alik S Widge
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Goering S, Versalovic E, Brown T. Ambiguous Agency as a Frame on Neural Device User Experience. AJOB Neurosci 2023; 14:50-52. [PMID: 36524954 DOI: 10.1080/21507740.2022.2150716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
|
16
|
Sattler S, Pietralla D. Public attitudes towards neurotechnology: Findings from two experiments concerning Brain Stimulation Devices (BSDs) and Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs). PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275454. [PMID: 36350815 PMCID: PMC9645609 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
This study contributes to the emerging literature on public perceptions of neurotechnological devices (NTDs) in their medical and non-medical applications, depending on their invasiveness, framing effects, and interindividual differences related to personal needs and values. We conducted two web-based between-subject experiments (2×2×2) using a representative, nation-wide sample of the adult population in Germany. Using vignettes describing how two NTDs, brain stimulation devices (BSDs; NExperiment 1 = 1,090) and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs; NExperiment 2 = 1,089), function, we randomly varied the purpose (treatment vs. enhancement) and invasiveness (noninvasive vs. invasive) of the NTD, and assessed framing effects (variable order of assessing moral acceptability first vs. willingness to use first). We found a moderate moral acceptance and willingness to use BSDs and BCIs. Respondents preferred treatment over enhancement purposes and noninvasive over invasive devices. We also found a framing effect and explored the role of personal characteristics as indicators of personal needs and values (e.g., stress, religiosity, and gender). Our results suggest that the future demand for BSDs or BCIs may depend on the purpose, invasiveness, and personal needs and values. These insights can inform technology developers about the public's needs and concerns, and enrich legal and ethical debates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Sattler
- Faculty of Sociology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- Institute of Sociology and Social Psychology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Pragmatic Health Ethics Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Dana Pietralla
- Institute of Sociology and Social Psychology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Psychology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Sankary LR, Zelinsky M, Machado A, Rush T, White A, Ford PJ. Exit from Brain Device Research: A Modified Grounded Theory Study of Researcher Obligations and Participant Experiences. AJOB Neurosci 2022; 13:215-226. [PMID: 34255614 PMCID: PMC10570922 DOI: 10.1080/21507740.2021.1938293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
As clinical trials end, little is understood about how participants exiting from clinical trials approach decisions related to the removal or post-trial use of investigational brain implants, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices. This empirical bioethics study examines how research participants experience the process of exit from research at the end of clinical trials of implanted neural devices. Using a modified grounded theory study design, we conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 16 former research participants from clinical trials of DBS and responsive neurostimulation (RNS). Open-ended questions elicited motivations for joining the trial, understanding of study procedures at the time of initial informed consent, the process of exiting from research, and decisions about device removal or post-trial device use. Thematic analysis identified categories related to: limited preparedness for the end of research participation, straightforwardness of decisions to explant or keep the device, reconciling with the end of research participation, reconciling post-trial expectations, and achieving a sense of closure after exit from research. A preliminary theoretical model describes contextual factors influencing the process and experience of exit from research. Experiences of clinical trial participants should guide research practices to enhance the ethical design and conduct of clinical trials in DBS and other brain devices.
Collapse
|
18
|
Schönau A, Goering S, Versalovic E, Montes N, Brown T, Dasgupta I, Klein E. Asking questions that matter – Question prompt lists as tools for improving the consent process for neurotechnology clinical trials. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:983226. [PMID: 35966997 PMCID: PMC9372354 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.983226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Implantable neurotechnology devices such as Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) and Deep Brain Stimulators (DBS) are an increasing part of treating or exploring potential treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders. While only a few devices are approved, many promising prospects for future devices are under investigation. The decision to participate in a clinical trial can be challenging, given a variety of risks to be taken into consideration. During the consent process, prospective participants might lack the language to consider those risks, feel unprepared, or simply not know what questions to ask. One tool to help empower participants to play a more active role during the consent process is a Question Prompt List (QPL). QPLs are communication tools that can prompt participants and patients to articulate potential concerns. They offer a structured list of disease, treatment, or research intervention-specific questions that research participants can use as support for question asking. While QPLs have been studied as tools for improving the consent process during cancer treatment, in this paper, we suggest they would be helpful in neurotechnology research, and offer an example of a QPL as a template for an informed consent tool in neurotechnology device trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Schönau
- Department of Philosophy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- *Correspondence: Andreas Schönau,
| | - Sara Goering
- Department of Philosophy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Erika Versalovic
- Department of Philosophy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Natalia Montes
- Department of Philosophy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Tim Brown
- Department of Philosophy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | | | - Eran Klein
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Luyck K, Bervoets C, Deblieck C, Nuttin B, Luyten L. Deep brain stimulation in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis: A symptom provocation study in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 151:252-260. [PMID: 35512619 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an emerging therapy for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and several targets for electrode implantation and contact selection have been proposed, including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST). Selecting the active electrode contacts (patients typically have four to choose from in each hemisphere), and thus the main locus of stimulation, can be a taxing process. Here, we investigated whether contact selection based purely on their neuroanatomical position in the BST is a worthwhile approach. For the first time, we also compared the effects of uni- versus bilateral BST stimulation. METHODS Nine OCD patients currently receiving DBS participated in a double-blind, randomized symptom provocation study to compare no versus BST stimulation. Primary outcomes were anxiety and mood ratings in response to disorder-relevant trigger images, as well as ratings of obsessions, compulsions, tendency to avoid and overall wellbeing. Furthermore, we asked whether patients preferred the electrode contacts in the BST over their regular stimulation contacts as a new treatment setting after the end of the task. RESULTS We found no statistically significant group differences between the four conditions (no, left, right and bilateral BST stimulation). Exploratory analyses, as well as follow-up data, did indicate that (bilateral) bipolar stimulation in the BST was beneficial for some patients, particularly for those who had achieved unsatisfactory effects through the typical contact selection procedure. CONCLUSIONS Despite its limitations, this study suggests that selection of stimulation contacts in the BST is a viable option for DBS in treatment-resistant OCD patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Luyck
- KU Leuven, Experimental Neurosurgery and Neuroanatomy, Herestraat 49 PB 7003, 3000, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, Herestraat 49 PB 1021, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Chris Bervoets
- Leuven Brain Institute, Herestraat 49 PB 1021, 3000, Leuven, Belgium; University Hospitals Leuven, Psychiatry, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Choi Deblieck
- University Hospitals Leuven, Psychiatry, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Nuttin
- KU Leuven, Experimental Neurosurgery and Neuroanatomy, Herestraat 49 PB 7003, 3000, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, Herestraat 49 PB 1021, 3000, Leuven, Belgium; University Hospitals Leuven, Neurosurgery, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Luyten
- KU Leuven, Experimental Neurosurgery and Neuroanatomy, Herestraat 49 PB 7003, 3000, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, Herestraat 49 PB 1021, 3000, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven, Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, Tiensestraat 102 PB 3712, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Stevens I, Gilbert F. International Regulatory Standards for the Qualitative Measurement of Deep Brain Stimulation in Clinical Research. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 2022; 17:228-241. [DOI: 10.1177/15562646221094922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has progressed to become a promising treatment modality for neurologic and psychiatric disorders like epilepsy and major depressive disorder due to its growing personalization. Despite evidence pointing to the benefits of DBS if tested on these personalized qualitative metrics, rather than randomized-control trial quantitative standards, the evaluation of these novel devices appears to be based on the latter. This study surveyed the presence of this trend in the national regulatory guidelines of the prominent DBS researching countries. It was found that two governing bodies, in the European Union and Australia, acknowledged the option for qualitative measures. These findings support further development of national regulatory guidelines, so the neuroscientific community developing these neurotechnologies can better understand the impact their treatments have on patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I. Stevens
- School of Humanities, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - F. Gilbert
- School of Humanities, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Kostick-Quenet K, Kalwani L, Koenig B, Torgerson L, Sanchez C, Munoz K, Hsu RL, Sierra-Mercado D, Robinson JO, Outram S, Pereira S, McGuire A, Zuk P, Lazaro-Munoz G. Researchers' Ethical Concerns About Using Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation for Enhancement. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:813922. [PMID: 35496073 PMCID: PMC9050172 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.813922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The capacity of next-generation closed-loop or adaptive deep brain stimulation devices (aDBS) to read (measure neural activity) and write (stimulate brain regions or circuits) shows great potential to effectively manage movement, seizure, and psychiatric disorders, and also raises the possibility of using aDBS to electively (non-therapeutically) modulate mood, cognition, and prosociality. What separates aDBS from most neurotechnologies (e.g. transcranial stimulation) currently used for enhancement is that aDBS remains an invasive, surgically-implanted technology with a risk-benefit ratio significantly different when applied to diseased versus non-diseased individuals. Despite a large discourse about the ethics of enhancement, no empirical studies yet examine perspectives on enhancement from within the aDBS research community. We interviewed 23 aDBS researchers about their attitudes toward expanding aDBS use for enhancement. A thematic content analysis revealed that researchers share ethical concerns related to (1) safety and security; (2) enhancement as unnecessary, unnatural or aberrant; and (3) fairness, equality, and distributive justice. Most (70%) researchers felt that enhancement applications for DBS will eventually be technically feasible and that attempts to develop such applications for DBS are already happening (particularly for military purposes). However, researchers unanimously (100%) felt that DBS ideally should not be considered for enhancement until researchers better understand brain target localization and functioning. While many researchers acknowledged controversies highlighted by scholars and ethicists, such as potential impacts on personhood, authenticity, autonomy and privacy, their ethical concerns reflect considerations of both gravity and perceived near-term likelihood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Kostick-Quenet
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Lavina Kalwani
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Barbara Koenig
- Anthropology & Bioethics Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Institute for Health & Aging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Laura Torgerson
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Clarissa Sanchez
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Katrina Munoz
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Rebecca L. Hsu
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Demetrio Sierra-Mercado
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Jill Oliver Robinson
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Simon Outram
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Stacey Pereira
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Amy McGuire
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Peter Zuk
- Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Gabriel Lazaro-Munoz
- Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Pabst A, Proksch S, Médé B, Comstock DC, Ross JM, Balasubramaniam R. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) on cognitive enhancement. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 135:104587. [PMID: 35202646 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) has been used to focally regulate excitability of neural cortex over the past decade - however there is little consensus on the generalizability of effects reported in individual studies. Many studies use small sample sizes (N < 30), and there is a considerable amount of methodological heterogeneity in application of the stimulation itself. This systematic meta-analysis aims to consolidate the extant literature and determine if up-regulatory theta-burst stimulation reliably enhances cognition through measurable behavior. Results show that iTBS - when compared to suitable control conditions - may enhance cognition when outlier studies are removed, but also that there is a significant amount of heterogeneity across studies. Significant contributors to between-study heterogeneity include location of stimulation and method of navigation to the stimulation site. Surprisingly, the type of cognitive domain investigated was not a significant contributor of heterogeneity. The findings of this meta-analysis demonstrate that standardization of iTBS is urgent and necessary to determine if neuroenhancement of particular cognitive faculties are reliable and robust, and measurable through observable behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandria Pabst
- Department of Cognitive and Information Sciences, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343, USA; Accenture Labs, 415 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA.
| | - Shannon Proksch
- Department of Cognitive and Information Sciences, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343, USA.
| | - Butovens Médé
- Department of Cognitive and Information Sciences, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343, USA.
| | - Daniel C Comstock
- Department of Cognitive and Information Sciences, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343, USA; Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis, 267 Cousteau Place, Davis, CA 95618, USA.
| | - Jessica Marie Ross
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare System, Stanford University, 3801 Miranda Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
| | - Ramesh Balasubramaniam
- Department of Cognitive and Information Sciences, University of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Kiang L, Woodington B, Carnicer-Lombarte A, Malliaras G, Barone DG. Spinal cord bioelectronic interfaces: opportunities in neural recording and clinical challenges. J Neural Eng 2022; 19. [PMID: 35320780 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac605f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Bioelectronic stimulation of the spinal cord has demonstrated significant progress in restoration of motor function in spinal cord injury (SCI). The proximal, uninjured spinal cord presents a viable target for the recording and generation of control signals to drive targeted stimulation. Signals have been directly recorded from the spinal cord in behaving animals and correlated with limb kinematics. Advances in flexible materials, electrode impedance and signal analysis will allow SCR to be used in next-generation neuroprosthetics. In this review, we summarize the technological advances enabling progress in SCR and describe systematically the clinical challenges facing spinal cord bioelectronic interfaces and potential solutions, from device manufacture, surgical implantation to chronic effects of foreign body reaction and stress-strain mismatches between electrodes and neural tissue. Finally, we establish our vision of bi-directional closed-loop spinal cord bioelectronic bypass interfaces that enable the communication of disrupted sensory signals and restoration of motor function in SCI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Kiang
- Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore, Singapore, 169608, SINGAPORE
| | - Ben Woodington
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Electrical Engineering Division, 9 JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1TN, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Alejandro Carnicer-Lombarte
- Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Bioelectronics Laboratory, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - George Malliaras
- University of Cambridge, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1TN, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Damiano G Barone
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Electrical Engineering Division, 9 JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 1TN, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Cabrera LY, Gilbert MMC, McCright AM, Achtyes ED, Bluhm R. Beyond the Cuckoo's Nest: Patient and Public Attitudes about Psychiatric Electroceutical Interventions. Psychiatr Q 2021; 92:1425-1438. [PMID: 33864542 PMCID: PMC8531080 DOI: 10.1007/s11126-021-09916-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Recent research emphasizes the role of psychiatric electroceutical interventions (PEIs), bioelectronic treatments that employ electrical stimulation to affect and modify brain function, to effectively treat psychiatric disorders. We sought to examine attitudes about three PEIs-electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and deep brain stimulation-among patients with depression and members of the general public. As part of a larger study to assess different stakeholders' attitudes about PEIs, we conducted semi-structured key informant interviews with 16 individuals living with depression and 16 non-depressive members of the general public. We used a purposive sampling approach to recruit potential participants based on eligibility criteria. We performed qualitative content analysis of interview transcripts. Participants from both groups expressed an overall cautionary attitude towards PEIs, yet there were mixed attitudes in both groups. Patients commonly described electroconvulsive therapy as scary, traumatic, or intense, while members of the general public often referenced the treatment's negative portrayal in One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. Patients and the general public saw transcranial magnetic stimulation as a potentially viable option, but in most cases only if medication was not effective. Deep brain stimulation attitudes were predominantly negative among patients and cautionary among public. The overall cautionary attitudes towards PEIs, together with the technological features and social aspects underlying those attitudes, highlight the need for unbiased education to fill the gaps in knowledge and inform perceptions of those who may benefit from these treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Y Cabrera
- Center for Neural Engineering, Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Penn State University, University Park, W-319 Millennium Science Complex, State College, PA, 16802, USA. .,Rock Ethics Institute, Penn State University, University Park, State College, PA, USA.
| | | | - Aaron M McCright
- Department of Sociology, College of Social Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Eric D Achtyes
- Division of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.,Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Robyn Bluhm
- Department of Philosophy, College of Arts and Letters, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.,Lyman Briggs College, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Wajnerman Paz A. Is Mental Privacy a Component of Personal Identity? Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:773441. [PMID: 34720912 PMCID: PMC8551354 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.773441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
26
|
Bluhm R, Castillo E, Achtyes ED, McCright AM, Cabrera LY. They Affect the Person, but for Better or Worse? Perceptions of Electroceutical Interventions for Depression Among Psychiatrists, Patients, and the Public. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2021; 31:2542-2553. [PMID: 34672815 PMCID: PMC8579329 DOI: 10.1177/10497323211037642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Responding to reports of cases of personality change following deep brain stimulation, neuroethicists have debated the nature and ethical implications of these changes. Recently, this literature has been challenged as being overblown and therefore potentially an impediment to patients accessing needed treatment. We interviewed 16 psychiatrists, 16 patients with depression, and 16 members of the public without depression, all from the Midwestern United States, about their views on how three electroceutical interventions (deep brain stimulation, electroconvulsive therapy, and transcranial magnetic stimulation) used to treat depression might affect the self. Participants were also asked to compare the electroceuticals' effects on the self with the effects of commonly used depression treatments (psychotherapy and pharmaceuticals). Using qualitative content analysis, we found that participants' views on electroceuticals' potential effects on the self mainly focused on treatment effectiveness and side effects. Our results have implications for both theoretical discussions in neuroethics and clinical practice in psychiatry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Bluhm
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Trading Vulnerabilities: Living with Parkinson's Disease before and after Deep Brain Stimulation. Camb Q Healthc Ethics 2021; 30:623-630. [PMID: 34702406 DOI: 10.1017/s0963180121000098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Implanted medical devices-for example, cardiac defibrillators, deep brain stimulators, and insulin pumps-offer users the possibility of regaining some control over an increasingly unruly body, the opportunity to become part "cyborg" in service of addressing pressing health needs. We recognize the value and effectiveness of such devices, but call attention to what may be less clear to potential users-that their vulnerabilities may not entirely disappear but instead shift. We explore the kinds of shifting vulnerabilities experienced by people with Parkinson's disease (PD) who receive therapeutic deep brain stimulators to help control their tremors and other symptoms of PD.
Collapse
|
28
|
Outram S, Muñoz KA, Kostick-Quenet K, Sanchez CE, Kalwani L, Lavingia R, Torgerson L, Sierra-Mercado D, Robinson JO, Pereira S, Koenig BA, Starr PA, Gunduz A, Foote KD, Okun MS, Goodman WK, McGuire AL, Zuk P, Lázaro-Muñoz G. Patient, Caregiver, and Decliner Perspectives on Whether to Enroll in Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation Research. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:734182. [PMID: 34690676 PMCID: PMC8529029 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.734182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This research study provides patient and caregiver perspectives as to whether or not to undergo adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) research. A total of 51 interviews were conducted in a multi-site study including patients undergoing aDBS and their respective caregivers along with persons declining aDBS. Reasons highlighted for undergoing aDBS included hopes for symptom alleviation, declining quality of life, desirability of being in research, and altruism. The primary reasons for not undergoing aDBS issues were practical rather than specific to aDBS technology, although some persons highlighted a desire to not be the first to trial the new technology. These themes are discussed in the context of "push" factors wherein any form of surgical intervention is preferable to none and "pull" factors wherein opportunities to contribute to science combine with hopes and/or expectations for the alleviation of symptoms. We highlight the significance of study design in decision making. aDBS is an innovative technology and not a completely new technology. Many participants expressed value in being part of research as an important consideration. We suggest that there are important implications when comparing patient perspectives vs. theoretical perspectives on the choice for or against aDBS. Additionally, it will be important how we communicate with patients especially in reference to the complexity of study design. Ultimately, this study reveals that there are benefits and potential risks when choosing a research study that involves implantation of a medical device.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Outram
- Program in Bioethics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Katrina A. Muñoz
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Kristin Kostick-Quenet
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Clarissa E. Sanchez
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Lavina Kalwani
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | | | - Laura Torgerson
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Demetrio Sierra-Mercado
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Jill O. Robinson
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Stacey Pereira
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Barbara A. Koenig
- Program in Bioethics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Philip A. Starr
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Aysegul Gunduz
- Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Program for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Kelly D. Foote
- Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Program for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Michael S. Okun
- Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Program for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Wayne K. Goodman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Amy L. McGuire
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Peter Zuk
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Thomson CJ, Segrave RA, Fitzgerald PB, Richardson KE, Racine E, Carter A. "Nothing to Lose, Absolutely Everything to Gain": Patient and Caregiver Expectations and Subjective Outcomes of Deep Brain Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Depression. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:755276. [PMID: 34658822 PMCID: PMC8511461 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.755276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: How "success" is defined in clinical trials of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for refractory psychiatric conditions has come into question. Standard quantitative psychopathology measures are unable to capture all changes experienced by patients and may not reflect subjective beliefs about the benefit derived. The decision to undergo DBS for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is often made in the context of high desperation and hopelessness that can challenge the informed consent process. Partners and family can observe important changes in DBS patients and play a key role in the recovery process. Their perspectives, however, have not been investigated in research to-date. The aim of this study was to qualitatively examine patient and caregivers' understanding of DBS for TRD, their expectations of life with DBS, and how these compare with actual experiences and outcomes. Methods: A prospective qualitative design was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants (six patients, five caregivers) before DBS-implantation and 9-months after stimulation initiation. All patients were enrolled in a clinical trial of DBS of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Interviews were thematically analyzed with data saturation achieved at both timepoints. Results: Two primary themes identified were: (1) anticipated vs. actual outcomes, and (2) trial decision-making and knowledge. The decision to undergo DBS was driven by the intolerability of life with severe depression coupled with the exhaustion of all available treatment options. Participants had greater awareness of surgical risks compared with stimulation-related risks. With DBS, patients described cognitive, emotional, behavioral and physical experiences associated with the stimulation, some of which were unexpected. Participants felt life with DBS was like "a roller coaster ride"-with positive, yet unsustained, mood states experienced. Many were surprised by the lengthy process of establishing optimum stimulation settings and felt the intervention was still a "work in progress." Conclusion: These findings support existing recommendations for iterative informed consent procedures in clinical trials involving long-term implantation of neurotechnology. These rich and descriptive findings hold value for researchers, clinicians, and individuals and families considering DBS. Narrative accounts capture patient and family needs and should routinely be collected to guide patient-centered approaches to DBS interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra J. Thomson
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Rebecca A. Segrave
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Paul B. Fitzgerald
- Epworth Centre for Innovation in Mental Health, Epworth Healthcare, Camberwell, VIC, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Karyn E. Richardson
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Eric Racine
- Pragmatic Health Ethics Research Unit, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine and Social and Preventive Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Medicine and Biomedical Ethics Unit, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Adrian Carter
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Portillo-Lara R, Tahirbegi B, Chapman CAR, Goding JA, Green RA. Mind the gap: State-of-the-art technologies and applications for EEG-based brain-computer interfaces. APL Bioeng 2021; 5:031507. [PMID: 34327294 PMCID: PMC8294859 DOI: 10.1063/5.0047237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) provide bidirectional communication between the brain and output devices that translate user intent into function. Among the different brain imaging techniques used to operate BCIs, electroencephalography (EEG) constitutes the preferred method of choice, owing to its relative low cost, ease of use, high temporal resolution, and noninvasiveness. In recent years, significant progress in wearable technologies and computational intelligence has greatly enhanced the performance and capabilities of EEG-based BCIs (eBCIs) and propelled their migration out of the laboratory and into real-world environments. This rapid translation constitutes a paradigm shift in human-machine interaction that will deeply transform different industries in the near future, including healthcare and wellbeing, entertainment, security, education, and marketing. In this contribution, the state-of-the-art in wearable biosensing is reviewed, focusing on the development of novel electrode interfaces for long term and noninvasive EEG monitoring. Commercially available EEG platforms are surveyed, and a comparative analysis is presented based on the benefits and limitations they provide for eBCI development. Emerging applications in neuroscientific research and future trends related to the widespread implementation of eBCIs for medical and nonmedical uses are discussed. Finally, a commentary on the ethical, social, and legal concerns associated with this increasingly ubiquitous technology is provided, as well as general recommendations to address key issues related to mainstream consumer adoption.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Portillo-Lara
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, Royal School of Mines, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Bogachan Tahirbegi
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, Royal School of Mines, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher A. R. Chapman
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, Royal School of Mines, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Josef A. Goding
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, Royal School of Mines, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Rylie A. Green
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, Royal School of Mines, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
|
32
|
Goering S, Klein E, Specker Sullivan L, Wexler A, Agüera y Arcas B, Bi G, Carmena JM, Fins JJ, Friesen P, Gallant J, Huggins JE, Kellmeyer P, Marblestone A, Mitchell C, Parens E, Pham M, Rubel A, Sadato N, Teicher M, Wasserman D, Whittaker M, Wolpaw J, Yuste R. Recommendations for Responsible Development and Application of Neurotechnologies. NEUROETHICS-NETH 2021; 14:365-386. [PMID: 33942016 PMCID: PMC8081770 DOI: 10.1007/s12152-021-09468-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Advancements in novel neurotechnologies, such as brain computer interfaces (BCI) and neuromodulatory devices such as deep brain stimulators (DBS), will have profound implications for society and human rights. While these technologies are improving the diagnosis and treatment of mental and neurological diseases, they can also alter individual agency and estrange those using neurotechnologies from their sense of self, challenging basic notions of what it means to be human. As an international coalition of interdisciplinary scholars and practitioners, we examine these challenges and make recommendations to mitigate negative consequences that could arise from the unregulated development or application of novel neurotechnologies. We explore potential ethical challenges in four key areas: identity and agency, privacy, bias, and enhancement. To address them, we propose (1) democratic and inclusive summits to establish globally-coordinated ethical and societal guidelines for neurotechnology development and application, (2) new measures, including "Neurorights," for data privacy, security, and consent to empower neurotechnology users' control over their data, (3) new methods of identifying and preventing bias, and (4) the adoption of public guidelines for safe and equitable distribution of neurotechnological devices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Eran Klein
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR USA
| | | | - Anna Wexler
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | | | - Guoqiang Bi
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- CAS Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Erik Parens
- The Hastings Center, Philipstown, Garrison, NY USA
| | | | - Alan Rubel
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Norihiro Sadato
- National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi Japan
| | | | | | - Meredith Whittaker
- Google, Mountain View, CA USA
- AI Now, New York City, NY USA
- New York University, New York City, NY USA
| | - Jonathan Wolpaw
- National Center for Adaptive Neurotechnologies, Albany, NY USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Goering S, Klein E. Fostering Neuroethics Integration with Neuroscience in the BRAIN Initiative: Comments on the NIH Neuroethics Roadmap. AJOB Neurosci 2021; 11:184-188. [PMID: 32716753 DOI: 10.1080/21507740.2020.1778120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The BRAIN 2.0 roadmap lauds the neuroscientific advances made in the first decade of the BRAIN Initiative, but also calls attention to the need to carefully consider how these advances will inform and perhaps alter our understanding of "those deepest behaviors that, as humans we hold dear" (Roadmap, Executive Summary). In this short statement, we briefly consider several features of the BRAIN Neuroethics subgroup's roadmap that lie within our area of expertise, including the recommendations to (1) enhance integration of neuroscience and neuroethics, and (2) provide additional tools and resources for neuroscientists to recognize neuroethics issues and opportunities for neuroethics research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Eran Klein
- University of Washington.,Oregon Health And Science University
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Goering S, Brown T, Klein E. Neurotechnology ethics and relational agency. PHILOSOPHY COMPASS 2021; 16:e12734. [PMID: 34531923 PMCID: PMC8443241 DOI: 10.1111/phc3.12734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Novel neurotechnologies, like deep brain stimulation and brain-computer interface, offer great hope for treating, curing, and preventing disease, but raise important questions about effects these devices may have on human identity, authenticity, and autonomy. After briefly assessing recent narrative work in these areas, we show that agency is a phenomenon key to all three goods and highlight the ways in which neural devices can help to draw attention to the relational nature of our agency. Drawing on insights from disability theory, we argue that neural devices provide a kind of agential assistance, similar to that provided by caregivers, family, and others. As such, users and devices participate in a kind of co-agency. We conclude by suggesting the need for developing relational agency-competencies-skills for reflecting on the influence of devices on agency, for adapting to novel circumstances ushered in by devices, and for incorporating the feedback of loved ones and others about device effects on agency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Goering
- Department of Philosophy and Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Timothy Brown
- Department of Philosophy and Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Eran Klein
- Department of Philosophy and Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Abstract
Neural devices have the capacity to enable users to regain abilities lost due to disease or injury - for instance, a deep brain stimulator (DBS) that allows a person with Parkinson's disease to regain the ability to fluently perform movements or a Brain Computer Interface (BCI) that enables a person with spinal cord injury to control a robotic arm. While users recognize and appreciate the technologies' capacity to maintain or restore their capabilities, the neuroethics literature is replete with examples of concerns expressed about agentive capacities: A perceived lack of control over the movement of a robotic arm might result in an altered sense of feeling responsible for that movement. Clinicians or researchers being able to record and access detailed information of a person's brain might raise privacy concerns. A disconnect between previous, current, and future understandings of the self might result in a sense of alienation. The ability to receive and interpret sensory feedback might change whether someone trusts the implanted device or themselves. Inquiries into the nature of these concerns and how to mitigate them has produced scholarship that often emphasizes one issue - responsibility, privacy, authenticity, or trust - selectively. However, we believe that examining these ethical dimensions separately fails to capture a key aspect of the experience of living with a neural device. In exploring their interrelations, we argue that their mutual significance for neuroethical research can be adequately captured if they are described under a unified heading of agency. On these grounds, we propose an "Agency Map" which brings together the diverse neuroethical dimensions and their interrelations into a comprehensive framework. With this, we offer a theoretically-grounded approach to understanding how these various dimensions are interwoven in an individual's experience of agency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Eran Klein
- University of Washington
- Oregon Health and Science University
| | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Cabrera LY, Courchesne C, Bittlinger M, Müller S, Martinez R, Racine E, Illes J. Authentic Self and Last Resort: International Perceptions of Psychiatric Neurosurgery. Cult Med Psychiatry 2021; 45:141-161. [PMID: 32562138 DOI: 10.1007/s11013-020-09679-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Psychiatric neurosurgery has resurfaced over the past two decades for the treatment of severe mental health disorders, with improved precision and safety over older interventions alongside the development of novel ones. Little is known, however, about current public opinions, expectations, hopes, and concerns over this evolution in neurotechnology, particularly given the controversial history of psychosurgery. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted a study with eight focus groups in Vancouver and Montreal (Canada; n = 14), Berlin (Germany; n = 22), and Madrid (Spain; n = 12). Focus group texts were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis in the language local to each city, guided by the theoretical framework of pragmatic neuroethics. Findings indicate that participants across all cities hold concerns about the last resort nature of psychiatric neurosurgery and the potential impact on the authentic self of patients who undergo these procedures. The views captured serve to advance discussion on the appropriate timing for psychiatric neurosurgery, promote sound health policy for the allocation of this resource, and foster scientific literacy about advances for mental health internationally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Y Cabrera
- Center for Ethics & Humanities in the Life Sciences, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, East Fee Hall, 965 Wilson Road, Rm C211, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
| | - C Courchesne
- The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - M Bittlinger
- Division of Mind and Brain Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, CCM, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - S Müller
- Division of Mind and Brain Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, CCM, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - R Martinez
- Functional Neurosurgery and Radiosurgery Unit, Ruber International Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - E Racine
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Department of Medicine and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery and Biomedical Ethics Unit, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - J Illes
- Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Koerner S124, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Merner AR, Frazier T, Ford PJ, Cooper SE, Machado A, Lapin B, Vitek J, Kubu CS. Changes in Patients' Desired Control of Their Deep Brain Stimulation and Subjective Global Control Over the Course of Deep Brain Stimulation. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:642195. [PMID: 33732125 PMCID: PMC7959799 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.642195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To examine changes in patients’ desired control of the deep brain stimulator (DBS) and perception of global life control throughout DBS. Methods: A consecutive cohort of 52 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) was recruited to participate in a prospective longitudinal study over three assessment points (pre-surgery, post-surgery months 3 and 6). Semi-structured interviews assessing participants’ desire for stimulation control and perception of global control were conducted at all three points. Qualitative data were coded using content analysis. Visual analog scales were embedded in the interviews to quantify participants’ perceptions of control over time. Results: Participants reported significant increases in their perception of global control over time and significant declines in their desired control of the stimulation. These changes were unrelated to improvements in motor symptoms. Improvements in global control were negatively correlated with a decline in desired stimulation control. Qualitative data indicate that participants have changed, nuanced levels of desired control over their stimulators. Increased global life control following DBS may be attributed to increased control over PD symptoms, increased ability to engage in valued activities, and increased overall self-regulation, while other domains related to global control remained unaffected by DBS. Conclusions: There are few empirical data documenting patients’ desire for stimulation control throughout neuromodulation and how stimulation control is related to other aspects of control despite the growing application of neuromodulation devices to treat a variety of disorders. Our data highlight distinctions in different types of control and have implications for the development of patient-controlled neurostimulation devices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda R Merner
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Thomas Frazier
- Department of Psychology, John Carroll University, University Heights, OH, United States
| | - Paul J Ford
- Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Neuroethics Program, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Scott E Cooper
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Andre Machado
- Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Brittany Lapin
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Jerrold Vitek
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Cynthia S Kubu
- Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Neuroethics Program, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Stevens I, Gilbert F. Ethical examination of deep brain stimulation's 'last resort' status. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS 2021; 47:medethics-2020-106609. [PMID: 33441307 DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2020-106609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) interventions are novel devices being investigated for the management of severe treatment-resistant psychiatric illnesses. These interventions require the invasive implantation of high-frequency neurostimulatory probes intracranially aiming to provide symptom relief in treatment-resistant disorders including obsessive-compulsive disorder and anorexia nervosa. In the scientific literature, these neurostimulatory interventions are commonly described as reversible and to be used as a last resort option for psychiatric patients. However, the 'last resort' status of these interventions is rarely expanded upon. Contrastingly, usages of DBS devices for neurological symptoms (eg, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy or dystonia) have paved the way for established safety and efficacy standards when used earlier in a disease's timeline. As DBS treatments for these neurological diseases progress to have earlier indications, there is a parallel ethical concern that early implementation may one day become prescribed for psychiatric illnesses. The purpose of this article is to build off contemporary understandings of reversible neurostimulatory interventions to examine and provide clarifications on the 'last resort' status of DBS to better address its ethically charged use in psychiatric neurosurgery. To do this, evaluative differences between DBS treatments will be discussed to demonstrate how patient autonomy would be a paramount guiding principle when one day implementing these devices at various points along a psychiatric disease's timeline. In presenting the clarification of 'last resort' status, the ethical tensions of early DBS interventions will be better understood to assist in providing psychiatric patients with more quality of life years in line with their values.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Stevens
- Philosophy & Gender Studies, University of Tasmania School of Humanities, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Frederic Gilbert
- Philosophy & Gender Studies, University of Tasmania School of Humanities, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Muñoz KA, Kostick K, Sanchez C, Kalwani L, Torgerson L, Hsu R, Sierra-Mercado D, Robinson JO, Outram S, Koenig BA, Pereira S, McGuire A, Zuk P, Lázaro-Muñoz G. Researcher Perspectives on Ethical Considerations in Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation Trials. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:578695. [PMID: 33281581 PMCID: PMC7689343 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.578695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Interest and investment in closed-loop or adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) systems have quickly expanded due to this neurotechnology's potential to more safely and effectively treat refractory movement and psychiatric disorders compared to conventional DBS. A large neuroethics literature outlines potential ethical concerns about conventional DBS and aDBS systems. Few studies, however, have examined stakeholder perspectives about ethical issues in aDBS research and other next-generation DBS devices. To help fill this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with researchers involved in aDBS trials (n = 23) to gain insight into the most pressing ethical questions in aDBS research and any concerns about specific features of aDBS devices, including devices' ability to measure brain activity, automatically adjust stimulation, and store neural data. Using thematic content analysis, we identified 8 central themes in researcher responses. The need to measure and store neural data for aDBS raised concerns among researchers about data privacy and security issues (noted by 91% of researchers), including the avoidance of unintended or unwanted third-party access to data. Researchers reflected on the risks and safety (83%) of aDBS due to the experimental nature of automatically modulating then observing stimulation effects outside a controlled clinical setting and in relation to need for surgical battery changes. Researchers also stressed the importance of ensuring informed consent and adequate patient understanding (74%). Concerns related to automaticity and device programming (65%) were discussed, including current uncertainties about biomarker validity. Additionally, researchers discussed the potential impacts of automatic stimulation on patients' autonomy and control over stimulation (57%). Lastly, researchers discussed concerns related to patient selection (defining criteria for candidacy) (39%), challenges of ensuring post-trial access to care and device maintenance (39%), and potential effects on personality and identity (30%). To help address researcher concerns, we discuss the need to minimize cybersecurity vulnerabilities, advance biomarker validity, promote the balance of device control between patients and clinicians, and enhance ongoing informed consent. The findings from this study will help inform policies that will maximize the benefits and minimize potential harms of aDBS and other next-generation DBS devices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katrina A. Muñoz
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Kristin Kostick
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Clarissa Sanchez
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Lavina Kalwani
- Department of Neuroscience, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Laura Torgerson
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Rebecca Hsu
- Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Demetrio Sierra-Mercado
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Jill O. Robinson
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Simon Outram
- Program in Bioethics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Barbara A. Koenig
- Program in Bioethics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Stacey Pereira
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Amy McGuire
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Peter Zuk
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz
- Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Abstract
Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs), which enable a two-way flow of signals, information, and directions between human neurons and computerized machines, offer spectacular opportunities for therapeutic and consumer applications, but they also present unique dangers to the safety, privacy, psychological health, and spiritual well-being of their users. The sale of these devices as commodities for profit exacerbates such issues and may subject the user to an unequal exchange with corporations. Catholic healthcare professionals and bioethicists should be especially concerned about the implications for the essential dignity of the persons using the new BMIs. Summary The commercial sale of brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) generates and exacerbates problems for end-users' safety, psychological health, and spiritual well-being.
Collapse
|
41
|
Olsen ST, Basu I, Bilge MT, Kanabar A, Boggess MJ, Rockhill AP, Gosai AK, Hahn E, Peled N, Ennis M, Shiff I, Fairbank-Haynes K, Salvi JD, Cusin C, Deckersbach T, Williams Z, Baker JT, Dougherty DD, Widge AS. Case Report of Dual-Site Neurostimulation and Chronic Recording of Cortico-Striatal Circuitry in a Patient With Treatment Refractory Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:569973. [PMID: 33192400 PMCID: PMC7645211 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.569973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders are increasingly understood as dysfunctions of hyper- or hypoconnectivity in distributed brain circuits. A prototypical example is obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), which has been repeatedly linked to hyper-connectivity of cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) loops. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) and lesions of CSTC structures have shown promise for treating both OCD and related disorders involving over-expression of automatic/habitual behaviors. Physiologically, we propose that this CSTC hyper-connectivity may be reflected in high synchrony of neural firing between loop structures, which could be measured as coherent oscillations in the local field potential (LFP). Here we report the results from the pilot patient in an Early Feasibility study (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03184454) in which we use the Medtronic Activa PC+ S device to simultaneously record and stimulate in the supplementary motor area (SMA) and ventral capsule/ventral striatum (VC/VS). We hypothesized that frequency-mismatched stimulation should disrupt coherence and reduce compulsive symptoms. The patient reported subjective improvement in OCD symptoms and showed evidence of improved cognitive control with the addition of cortical stimulation, but these changes were not reflected in primary rating scales specific to OCD and depression, or during blinded cortical stimulation. This subjective improvement was correlated with increased SMA and VC/VS coherence in the alpha, beta, and gamma bands, signals which persisted after correcting for stimulation artifacts. We discuss the implications of this research, and propose future directions for research in network modulation in OCD and more broadly across psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah T. Olsen
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Ishita Basu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Mustafa Taha Bilge
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Anish Kanabar
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Matthew J. Boggess
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Alexander P. Rockhill
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Aishwarya K. Gosai
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Emily Hahn
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Noam Peled
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Michaela Ennis
- McLean Institute for Technology in Psychiatry and Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, United States
| | - Ilana Shiff
- McLean Institute for Technology in Psychiatry and Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, United States
| | - Katherine Fairbank-Haynes
- McLean Institute for Technology in Psychiatry and Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, United States
| | - Joshua D. Salvi
- McLean Institute for Technology in Psychiatry and Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, United States
| | - Cristina Cusin
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Thilo Deckersbach
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Ziv Williams
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Justin T. Baker
- McLean Institute for Technology in Psychiatry and Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, United States
| | - Darin D. Dougherty
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Alik S. Widge
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Rainey S, Erden YJ. Correcting the Brain? The Convergence of Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, Psychiatry, and Artificial Intelligence. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2020; 26:2439-2454. [PMID: 32632783 PMCID: PMC7550307 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-020-00240-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The incorporation of neural-based technologies into psychiatry offers novel means to use neural data in patient assessment and clinical diagnosis. However, an over-optimistic technologisation of neuroscientifically-informed psychiatry risks the conflation of technological and psychological norms. Neurotechnologies promise fast, efficient, broad psychiatric insights not readily available through conventional observation of patients. Recording and processing brain signals provides information from 'beneath the skull' that can be interpreted as an account of neural processing and that can provide a basis to evaluate general behaviour and functioning. But it ought not to be forgotten that the use of such technologies is part of a human practice of neuroscience informed psychiatry. This paper notes some challenges in the integration of neural technologies into psychiatry and suggests vigilance particularly in respect to normative challenges. In this way, psychiatry can avoid a drift toward reductive technological approaches, while nonetheless benefitting from promising advances in neuroscience and technology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Rainey
- Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, Suite 8, Littlegate House, St Ebbes Street, Oxford, OX1 1PT, UK.
| | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Versalovic E, Diamond M, Klein E. "Re-identifying yourself": a qualitative study of veteran views on implantable BCI for mobility and communication in ALS. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol 2020; 17:807-814. [PMID: 32940119 DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2020.1817991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to assist with mobility and communication is an active area of research in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Implantable BCI offers promise for individuals with severe disease, such as locked-in syndrome, but also raises important ethical issues. We undertook in-depth qualitative interviews with ALS patients from a Veterans Administration hospital ALS multi-disciplinary clinic and explored their perspectives on issues of identity, privacy, enhancement, informed consent, and responsibility related to implantable BCI. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with sixteen (n = 16) individuals, and transcripts were analysed using a modified grounded theory approach. RESULTS Emergent themes included: (1) attitudes towards BCI were characterised by fear, hope, and hesitation about adoption of BCI technology; (2) analogies to other technologies were a useful tool in understanding and communicating opinions about ethical issues in BCI; (3) concerns about potentially socially stigmatising effects of BCI and the burden of adjustment to new therapeutic devices were important considerations to be weighed against the potential functional benefit of BCI use; (4) therapeutic decision-making in ALS often intimately involves loved ones; and (5) prospective decision-making about BCI was significantly affected by weighing the timing of the intervention with the progression of illness. CONCLUSION The interest in BCI and views on ethical issues raised by BCI is moderated by the experience of living with ALS. The findings from this study can help guide the development of implantable BCI technology for persons with ALS.Implications for rehabilitationLoved ones will play crucial roles in helping patients think through the possible benefits and burdens of getting a BCI device.Providers should consider how the ideal timing for getting an implantable BCI device will vary based on the priorities of persons with ALS and their disease stage.Concerns about social stigma, burden of adjustment, and the desire to maximise time left with loved ones may outweigh the potential functional benefits of BCI devices for some persons with ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erika Versalovic
- Department of Philosophy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Melissa Diamond
- Department of Philosophy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Eran Klein
- Department of Philosophy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Brown T. Building Intricate Partnerships with Neurotechnology: Deep Brain Stimulation and Relational Agency. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FEMINIST APPROACHES TO BIOETHICS 2020. [DOI: 10.3138/ijfab.13.1.09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is an FDA-approved treatment for symptoms of motor disorders—with experimental use for psychiatric disorders. DBS, however, causes a variety of side effects. Moral philosophers question DBS’s influence on users’ experiences of authenticity, identity, and/or autonomy. These characterizations of DBS, however, may not make sense of how DBS complicates, rather than simply impedes or bolsters, users’ abilities to exercise agency. Empirical work exploring DBS users’ lived-experiences and feminist accounts of relational autonomy demonstrate that the issues users face are better characterized in terms of the user’s relationship to their stimulator, that is, in terms of “relational agency.”
Collapse
|
45
|
Aggarwal S, Chugh N. Ethical Implications of Closed Loop Brain Device: 10-Year Review. Minds Mach (Dordr) 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11023-020-09518-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
46
|
Steinert S, Friedrich O. Wired Emotions: Ethical Issues of Affective Brain-Computer Interfaces. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2020; 26:351-367. [PMID: 30868377 PMCID: PMC6978299 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-019-00087-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Ethical issues concerning brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have already received a considerable amount of attention. However, one particular form of BCI has not received the attention that it deserves: Affective BCIs that allow for the detection and stimulation of affective states. This paper brings the ethical issues of affective BCIs in sharper focus. The paper briefly reviews recent applications of affective BCIs and considers ethical issues that arise from these applications. Ethical issues that affective BCIs share with other neurotechnologies are presented and ethical concerns that are specific to affective BCIs are identified and discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Steinert
- Department of Values, Technology and Innovation, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Orsolya Friedrich
- Institute of Ethics, History and Theory of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Lessingstr. 2, 80336 Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Hendriks S, Grady C, Chiong W, Fins JJ, Ford P, Goering S, Greely HT, Hutchison K, Kelly ML, Kim SY, Klein E, Lisanby SH, Mayberg H, Maslen H, Miller FG, Ramos KM, Rommelfanger K, Sheth SA, Wexler A. Ethical Challenges of Risk, Informed Consent, and Posttrial Responsibilities in Human Research With Neural Devices: A Review. JAMA Neurol 2019; 76:1506-1514. [PMID: 31621797 PMCID: PMC9395156 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.3523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Importance Developing more and better diagnostic and therapeutic tools for central nervous system disorders is an ethical imperative. Human research with neural devices is important to this effort and a critical focus of the National Institutes of Health Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. Despite regulations and standard practices for conducting ethical research, researchers and others seek more guidance on how to ethically conduct neural device studies. This article draws on, reviews, specifies, and interprets existing ethical frameworks, literature, and subject matter expertise to address 3 specific ethical challenges in neural devices research: analysis of risk, informed consent, and posttrial responsibilities to research participants. Observations Research with humans proceeds after careful assessment of the risks and benefits. In assessing whether risks are justified by potential benefits in both invasive and noninvasive neural device research, the following categories of potential risks should be considered: those related to surgery, hardware, stimulation, research itself, privacy and security, and financial burdens. All 3 of the standard pillars of informed consent-disclosure, capacity, and voluntariness-raise challenges in neural device research. Among these challenges are the need to plan for appropriate disclosure of information about atypical and emerging risks of neural devices, a structured evaluation of capacity when that is in doubt, and preventing patients from feeling unduly pressured to participate. Researchers and funders should anticipate participants' posttrial needs linked to study participation and take reasonable steps to facilitate continued access to neural devices that benefit participants. Possible mechanisms for doing so are explored here. Depending on the study, researchers and funders may have further posttrial responsibilities. Conclusions and Relevance This ethical analysis and points to consider may assist researchers, institutional review boards, funders, and others engaged in human neural device research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Hendriks
- Department of Bioethics, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christine Grady
- Department of Bioethics, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Winston Chiong
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joseph J. Fins
- Division of Medical Ethics and CASBI, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Paul Ford
- Center for Bioethics, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Sara Goering
- Department of Philosophy and Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Katrina Hutchison
- Department of Philosophy, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Australia
| | - Michael L. Kelly
- Department of Neurosurgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, MetroHeath Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Scott Y.H. Kim
- Department of Bioethics, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eran Klein
- Department of Philosophy and Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Sciences, University Portland, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Sarah H. Lisanby
- Division of Translational Research, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Helen Mayberg
- Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Hannah Maslen
- The Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Franklin G. Miller
- Division of Medical Ethics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Khara M. Ramos
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Sameer A. Sheth
- Cognitive Science and Neuromodulation Program, Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna Wexler
- Department of Medical Ethics & Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
van Westen M, Rietveld E, Denys D. Effective Deep Brain Stimulation for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Requires Clinical Expertise. Front Psychol 2019; 10:2294. [PMID: 31695638 PMCID: PMC6817500 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an innovative treatment for severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Electrodes implanted in specific brain areas allow clinicians to directly modulate neural activity. DBS affects symptomatology in a completely different way than established forms of treatment for OCD, such as psychotherapy or medication. OBJECTIVE To understand the process of improvement with DBS in patients with severe OCD. METHODS By means of open-ended interviews and participant observation we explore how expert clinicians involved in the post-operative process of DBS optimization evaluate DBS effects. RESULTS Evaluating DBS effect is an interactive and context-sensitive process that gradually unfolds over time and requires integration of different sources of knowledge. Clinicians direct DBS optimization toward a critical point where they sense that patients are being moved with regard to behavior, emotion, and active engagement, opening up possibilities for additional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). DISCUSSION Based on the theoretical framework of radical embodied cognitive science (RECS), we assume that clinical expertise manifests itself in the pattern of interaction between patient and clinician. To the expert clinician, this pattern reflects the patient's openness to possibilities for action ("affordances") offered by their environment. OCD patients' improvement with DBS can be understood as a change in openness to their environment. The threshold for patients to engage in activities is decreased and a broader range of daily life and therapeutic activities becomes attractive. Movement is improvement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maarten van Westen
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Erik Rietveld
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Institute for Logic, Language and Computation, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Philosophy, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Damiaan Denys
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for Neurosciences, Institute of the Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
The Effects of Closed-Loop Brain Implants on Autonomy and Deliberation: What are the Risks of Being Kept in the Loop? Camb Q Healthc Ethics 2019; 27:316-325. [PMID: 29509128 DOI: 10.1017/s0963180117000640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Neuroethics Now welcomes articles addressing the ethical application of neuroscience in research and patient care, as well as its impact on society.
Collapse
|
50
|
|