Wired Emotions: Ethical Issues of Affective Brain-Computer Interfaces

Steffen Steinert; Orsolya Friedrich

doi:10.1007/s11948-019-00087-2

Wired Emotions: Ethical Issues of Affective Brain-Computer Interfaces

Sci Eng Ethics. 2020 Feb;26(1):351-367. doi: 10.1007/s11948-019-00087-2. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Authors

Steffen Steinert¹, Orsolya Friedrich²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Values, Technology and Innovation, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands. s.steinert@tudelft.nl.
² Institute of Ethics, History and Theory of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Lessingstr. 2, 80336, Munich, Germany.

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.

Keywords: Affective brain–computer interface; Affective states; Brain–computer interface; Emotion.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Affect / ethics*
Bias
Brain-Computer Interfaces / ethics*
Decision Making
Emotions / ethics*
Humans
Informed Consent
Motivation
Personal Autonomy
Privacy