Brain Waves and Cognitive Freedom

The awe of billions of stars in outer space may only be rivaled by the awesome billions of neurons in the human brain. For good reason, scientists are probing space and brainwaves. Both explorations hold great promise – and potential danger.

Mankind has stared for eons at the vast sky and its chorus of stars. The staring became more serious and scientific after the telescope was invented. Likewise, mankind has wondered for centuries about the role and methods of the human brain. That wonderment has intensified with the advent of brain-computer interfaces (BCI).

We are planning to colonize the moon and travel to Mars. We are using BCI to help older adults retain memory, disabled persons to perform physical tasks, doctors to diagnose brain disorders and addicts to overcome addiction.

Alongside these marvels are more troubling possibilities. As humans begin to occupy space more routinely, some may use the opportunity to introduce their worst worldly instincts and weapons. As humans find electronic pathways into how brains think, some may use that access to eavesdrop or implant information.

In the shadow of unparalleled progress, we could witness a nuclear space race and a battle to preserve our cognitive freedom.

Brief Romp Through Sci-Fi History
Science and science fiction cross-fertilize when it comes to space and the brain. 

Johannes Kepler, a mathematician and astronomer who discovered principles of planetary motion, wrote Somnium (The Dream) in 1634. It describes an Icelandic boy and his witch mother who imagine how earth might look from the vantage point of the moon. Isaac Azimov and Carl Sagan regarded The Dream as the first book of science fiction.

American science fiction writer Poul Anderson wrote Brain Wave in 1954. Earth temporarily moves out of a favorable electro-magnetic field, interrupting brain neurons, but ultimately causing IQ levels of humans and animals to increase sharply. Anderson’s social commentary doesn’t wear well in our times, but his depiction of malleable neural activity has an interesting echo and warning for today.

Keanu Reeves in The Matrix uploaded martial arts expertise into his brain. Minority Report and Avatarconjure worlds in which human brains interact seamlessly with robots, prosthetics and computers. The merging of man and machine is a recurring sci-fi theme. But the mythical merger doesn’t guarantee that man will always control the machine.

“Opening up the brain to the world profoundly changes
what it means to be human and how we relate to one another.”

Battle for Your Brain
Eric Chudler is a research neuroscientist at the University of Washington, author of Neuropedia and founder of Neuroscience for Kids. In an essay, he wrote, “The brain science depicted in many Hollywood blockbusters sounds wonderful and could have far-reaching benefits for people who suffer from diseases or disorders of the nervous system. Such innovations also have uses for those who would want to boost their cognitive abilities – if the science was real.”

“At the present time, our knowledge of how the brain codes information is incomplete,” he explains. “Over the past 75 years, scientific research has made substantial progress toward understanding the cellular mechanisms responsible for memory and learning, but how the brain creates our consciousness, thoughts, emotions and intellect remains elusive.”

Chudler adds a thought in the realm of neuroethics. “Significant progress has been made towards development of technologies to assist people with neurological problems. Although scientists and engineers have the ability to develop these new neuro-technologies, some people question if and how researchers should proceed with this research. Neuroethical concerns about this research include the type of information collected from the brain, access and safety of the information, and acceptance of the new technology from end-users and the public.”

Nita Farahany, author of The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology, underlines the concern Chudler identifies. Noting that headphones and earbuds with sensors can read brain waves, she warns, “Nobody should walk into this blindly thinking this is just another fun tool. The brain is the most sensitive organ we have. Opening that up to the rest of the world profoundly changes what it means to be human and how we relate to one another.”

Farahany, who holds a bachelor’s degree in genetics, doctorate in the philosophy of biology and a law degree, focuses on bioethical issues posed by technological advances, including the use of brain-computer interfaces. Appearing recently on the On Point radio show, Farahany said, “China has very clearly said that it believes the sixth domain of warfare is the human brain. They are investing tremendous dollars into developing brain computer interfaces, but also figuring out ways to disable brains or to spy on brains.”

Human cognitive liberty, she says, is at risk.

Farahany told On Point host Meghna Chakrabarti she isn’t opposed to brain-computer interfaces, has experimented with some devices and acknowledges there are many positive uses of the technology.

“Because I am somebody who is deeply optimistic, I want the good of this technology for humanity,” she said. “But I see the risks, because there is really nothing more sensitive and fundamental than what it means to be human, than having that space of inner monologue, of private thought, of being able to entertain and turn over ideas in your own mind without fear of it being misused by other people, accessed by other people, commodified by companies, interfered with by governments and the potential of connecting our brains to technology makes all of those risks a possibility.”

How Did We Get Here
Direct observation has played a key role in understanding the universe and earth’s place in that universe. Direct observation of the human brain wasn’t feasible until relatively recently.

Observations of planets, stars, asteroids and black holes improved with the ability to get telescopes deeper into space. The light-bulb moment for neuroscience may have occurred when an Italian man and wife research team saw the muscles of a dead frog twitch when given an electric shock. Until then, the assumption was the heart ran the body.

Mary Shelley in 1818 may have inspired the idea of harnessing brainpower as Dr. Frankenstein used a disembodied brain to control another body. Whether Frankenstein was an influence or not, British physician and psychologist Richard Caton discovered electrical activity in animal brains. He noted the electrical patterns were different when an animal was eating or sleeping. Caton’s findings led to the discovery 50 years later of alpha wave activity in human brains. 

In the 1950s, a movie titled Donovan’s Brain showed a brain controlling machines at a distance. When early computers emerged, the basis for a brain-computer interface became feasible – even inevitable. It was demonstrated by an unlikely source – Alvin Lucier, a composer, who created experimental music using alpha waves to give voice to his own brain waves.

Controlling Space and the Mind
Control of space means getting their first and planting something equivalent to a flag, space tent or a colony. Controlling the mind is all about inputs.

UCLA computer scientist Jacques Vidal coined the term “Direct Brain-Computer Communication’ in a 1973 paper. He explained the concept of reading information from brain waves, interpreting them with a computer and using that activity to control things such as ‘prosthetics or spaceships’.

The next step involved the invention of wearable technology like smartwatches and earbuds that could track bodily activity, including brainwaves. They are the perfect devices to track the activity of employees at work to measure productivity, discover personal problems or monitor thoughts. 

Wearable technologies can import music and book readings – and just as easily implant propaganda or group think. They hold the potential to listen in on someone’s inner communication, report a person’s thoughts and deliver warnings about forbidden thoughts. That’s when cognitive freedom would be at stake.

Exploring brains is cheap because it only requires sensors, not rockets. The rewards from neurological exploration are more immediate, potentially more useful, as well as more personal and potentially more alarming.Space exploration is yielding a better understanding of the origins of the universe as well as life on earth. Brain research may lead to incredible innovations, but also reveal things many of us would prefer to remain locked in our own heads. 

Feature Image Credit: Illustration by Donna Grethen/Ikon Images