Grant: Team Grant: European Research Projects of Neuroscience

INTERFACES is an international research project on ethical, legal and social aspects (ELSA) of brain-computer interfaces (BCI). This neurotechnology has recently made ground-breaking progress and is about to enter real-world application in motor & communication assistance, neuropsychiatric treatment and neuroenhancement. The project aims to investigate (1) the neglected perspectives of patients, clinicians, and the public, (2) evaluate the fundamental conceptual, ethical and legal questions associated with BCI applications and (3) utilize the resulting insights to offer orientation for medicine and society, thus following a translational research approach. Interview studies with neurological patients who have experience with BCI studies, an international clinician survey, and an experimental vignette study on the public's moral intuitions will serve to collect lacking empirical data. These will feed into an ethico-legal analysis on agency, autonomy and responsibility. A final knowledge translation phase will be supported by an expert group deliberation. The research results serve to create write a policy brief for societal decision-makers and construct a video podcast informing the public about ELSA aspects of BCI.