Should you have the tools to hack your brain?
The widespread distribution of neurofeedback games has some scientists a little worried, according to Wired:
Companies including Emotiv Systems and NeuroSky say they've released [brain-computer interface]-based software-development kits. Gaming companies may release BCI games next year, but many scientists worry that users brains' might be subject to negative effects.
For example, the devices sometimes force users to slow down their brain waves. Afterward, users have reported trouble focusing their attention.
"Imagine that somebody uses a game with slow brain-wave activity and then drives a car while still in that state," says Niels Birbaumer, a leading independent researcher in medical applications of BCIs. "You could have an accident. I think it's a rare possibility, but it should be tested before people do this."
Of course, the zen version of Halo isn't the only way to adjust your brain's function. There's a bunch of research indicating that meditation can have real effects on how the brain operates (here's a review paper on the subject -- drop "meditation eeg" into PubMed and a whole lot more will tumble out). And really, if you choose to tune your brain waves a particular way -- either through meditation or gaming -- isn't that between you and your brain? Or maybe biofeedback and its effects are more like alcohol and other drugs. Are we looking at a whole new thing to regulate?
-Greg Dahlmann
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I think this seriously misunderstands what these games are (not) capable of. I imagine the measure general electrical noise just like a physiograph. The player is calm, there is less noise. This isn't exactly cyber punk. Mood states are transitory and very low tech really. They involve "brain waves" only to the extent that anything to do with mood affects gross electrical brain activity. Listening to classical music would be far more 'risky' on this basis. Time to ban Mozart?
- by emily on Sep 19, 2007 at 9:25 AM | link
Listening to classical music would be far more 'risky' on this basis. Time to ban Mozart?
Hah! The whole thing did seem a little overblown, which is one of the reasons I posted it. Then again, what seems absurd today sometimes ends up being commonplace in the future. Sometimes.
- by Greg on Sep 19, 2007 at 10:52 AM | link
I think we are already regulating the heck out of our brains, but with pharmaceuticals.
- by emily on Sep 19, 2007 at 12:04 PM | link