Brain Gene Transfer and Brain Implants
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Rolando Meloni
Information and communication technologies (ICTs), with their increasing and widespread utilization in daily life, may exert an important impact on brain performances. The development of their use for improving several cerebral processes, by abolishing the brain/machine interface, is envisaged and is subject to debate. The scientific research on brain implants and brain gene transfer aiming to restore central nervous system functions, altered by disease or trauma, may contribute to this debate. Indeed, the advances that are enabling non drug-mediated approaches for direct interventions on the brain are raising the possibility not only of restoring neural functions for therapeutic purposes, but also of monitoring, controlling and ultimately modifying from the outside these functions for enhancement. This paper gives an overview of the state of the art of brain implants and brain gene transfer for neurological diseases with a particular emphasis on Parkinson’s disease and a forecast on their possible application for other conditions. In doing so, the authors, who are neuroscientists working in the field of gene transfer for neuropsychiatric diseases, aim to establish a scientifically, medically and technically realistic framework to open up discussion on relevant ethical issues in this domain.
©2011 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Editorial
- The Convergence of the Physical, Mental and Virtual
- Article
- Artificial Companions: Empathy and Vulnerability Mirroring in Human-Robot Relations
- Brain Gene Transfer and Brain Implants
- Neuroethical Issues in Neurogenetic and Neuro-Implantation Technology: The Need for Pragmatism and Preparedness in Practice and Policy
- Brain-Computer Interaction and Medical Access to the Brain: Individual, Social and Ethical Implications
- Future Issues with Robots and Cyborgs
- Brain-Machine Interfaces and Personal Responsibility for Action - Maybe Not As Complicated After All
- New Questions, or Only Old Questions in a New Guise?
- Kevin Warwick's Experiment 1: Future Identity
- A Reply to My Commentators
Articles in the same Issue
- Editorial
- The Convergence of the Physical, Mental and Virtual
- Article
- Artificial Companions: Empathy and Vulnerability Mirroring in Human-Robot Relations
- Brain Gene Transfer and Brain Implants
- Neuroethical Issues in Neurogenetic and Neuro-Implantation Technology: The Need for Pragmatism and Preparedness in Practice and Policy
- Brain-Computer Interaction and Medical Access to the Brain: Individual, Social and Ethical Implications
- Future Issues with Robots and Cyborgs
- Brain-Machine Interfaces and Personal Responsibility for Action - Maybe Not As Complicated After All
- New Questions, or Only Old Questions in a New Guise?
- Kevin Warwick's Experiment 1: Future Identity
- A Reply to My Commentators
