Academic Journal
The foundational role of autonomy for brain-computer interfaces.
| Τίτλος: | The foundational role of autonomy for brain-computer interfaces. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Richter F; School of Transformation and Sustainability, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Eichstätt, Germany. florian.richter@ku.de. |
| Πηγή: | Philosophy, ethics, and humanities in medicine : PEHM [Philos Ethics Humanit Med] 2026 Sep 21; Vol. 21 (1). Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Sep 21. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: BioMed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101258058 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1747-5341 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 17475341 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Philos Ethics Humanit Med Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: [London] : BioMed Central, 2006- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Brain-Computer Interfaces*/ethics , Personal Autonomy*, Humans ; Sense of Agency |
| Περίληψη: | Invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) pose a challenge for describing human-system interactions because they involve a depth of engagement that is difficult to disentangle. This is particularly problematic when clear authorship of decisions is needed. This presupposes that such devices might also decide autonomously in certain situations. Although the use and implementation of such devices are highly disputed in practical ethics, they seem to offer at least therapeutic benefits for persons with, e.g., Parkinson's disease. That is why it is indispensable to develop a conceptual framework that allows a description of the system's interactions with the human agent. The effects of brain-computer interfaces on patients are assessed empirically in studies and hypothesized on a more speculative level via thought experiments. A model to operationalize dimensions of agency, such as responsibility and privacy, has been proposed. Nevertheless, this model is inchoate if it is not related to autonomy, because it is widely assumed that autonomy is not only a characteristic of the human agent but also of the technological system (at least to a certain degree). Consequently, a more complete model is needed that classifies autonomy at different levels (operational, strategic, and moral). Technological systems can only operate on the first two levels because their behavior is based on dispositions within the scope of alethic modality, whilst human agency is based on deontic structures that are expressed via normative attitudes and statuses that cannot be reduced to alethic modality. This crucial difference can be used to develop methods for evaluating the ethical side of BCIs. (© 2026. The Author(s).) |
| Competing Interests: | Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Autonomous systems; Brain-computer interfaces; Human agency |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260923 Date Completed: 20260923 Latest Revision: 20260924 |
| Update Code: | 20260924 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13595606 |
| DOI: | 10.1186/s13010-026-00231-4 |
| PMID: | 42773469 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1747-5341 |
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| DOI: | 10.1186/s13010-026-00231-4 |