Brain reading and mental privacy
PIM HASELAGER |
TEDxISM
• October 2017
Pim Haselager obtained master degrees in philosophy and psychology and received his Ph.D. in 1995 at the Free University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Currently, Pim is an associate professor and senior researcher at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, at the Radboud University Nijmegen.
Pim is interested in the societal and ethical implications of cognitive neuroscience and artificial intelligence. Because the progress in science and technology is fast, we need to consider and discuss the main consequences (good or bad) well in advance of practical applications in order to make responsible decisions.
In his TEDxISM talk, Pim will address the topic of brain reading: measuring brain activity in order to decode mental states. Accessing a person’s mind on the basis of brain measurements is becoming possible in principle, but in practice, many difficulties exist and current demonstrations are still very limited. Ultimately, brain reading may positively contribute to the understanding and treatment of e.g. mental illness. But it may also threaten our mental privacy and freedom of thought. How do we develop a well-informed assessment of this technology? What should we do in order to protect ourselves against undesired applications?