Ebook: Nanotechnology, the Brain, and the Future

Our brain is the source of everything that makes us human: language, creativity, rationality, emotion, communication, culture, politics. The neurosciences have given us, in recent decades, fundamental new insights into how the brain works and what that means for how we see ourselves as individuals and as communities. Now – with the help of new advances in nanotechnology – brain science proposes to go further: to study its molecular foundations, to repair brain functions, to create mind-machine interfaces, and to enhance human mental capacities in radical ways. This book explores the convergence of these two revolutionary scientific fields and the implications of this convergence for the future of human societies. In the process, the book offers a significant new approach to technology assessment, one which operates in real-time, alongside the innovation process, to inform the ways in which new fields of science and technology emerge in, get shaped by, and help shape human societies.

---

Our brain is the source of everything that makes us human: language, creativity, rationality, emotion, communication, culture, politics. The neurosciences have given us, in recent decades, fundamental new insights into how the brain works and what that means for how we see ourselves as individuals and as communities. Now – with the help of new advances in nanotechnology – brain science proposes to go further: to study its molecular foundations, to repair brain functions, to create mind-machine interfaces, and to enhance human mental capacities in radical ways. This book explores the convergence of these two revolutionary scientific fields and the implications of this convergence for the future of human societies. In the process, the book offers a significant new approach to technology assessment, one which operates in real-time, alongside the innovation process, to inform the ways in which new fields of science and technology emerge in, get shaped by, and help shape human societies.

---

Our brain is the source of everything that makes us human: language, creativity, rationality, emotion, communication, culture, politics. The neurosciences have given us, in recent decades, fundamental new insights into how the brain works and what that means for how we see ourselves as individuals and as communities. Now – with the help of new advances in nanotechnology – brain science proposes to go further: to study its molecular foundations, to repair brain functions, to create mind-machine interfaces, and to enhance human mental capacities in radical ways. This book explores the convergence of these two revolutionary scientific fields and the implications of this convergence for the future of human societies. In the process, the book offers a significant new approach to technology assessment, one which operates in real-time, alongside the innovation process, to inform the ways in which new fields of science and technology emerge in, get shaped by, and help shape human societies.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xi
Front Matter....Pages 19-19
Applications of Nanotechnology to the Brain and Central Nervous System....Pages 21-41
Public Attitudes Towards Nanotechnology-Enabled Cognitive Enhancement in the United States....Pages 43-65
U.S. News Coverage of Neuroscience Nanotechnology: How U.S. Newspapers Have Covered Neuroscience Nanotechnology During the Last Decade....Pages 67-78
Nanotechnology, the Brain, and the Future: Ethical Considerations....Pages 79-96
A New Model for Public Engagement: The Dialogue on Nanotechnology and Religion....Pages 97-111
Front Matter....Pages 113-113
The Age of Neuroelectronics....Pages 115-146
The Cochlear Implant Controversy: Lessons Learned for Using Anticipatory Governance to Address Societal Concerns of Nano-scale Neural Interface Technologies....Pages 147-158
Healing the Blind: Perspectives of Blind Persons on Methods to Restore Sight....Pages 159-166
Nanotechnology, the Brain, and Personal Identity....Pages 167-178
Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects of Brain-Implants Using Nano-Scale Materials and Techniques....Pages 179-191
Front Matter....Pages 193-193
The Complex Cognitive Systems Manifesto....Pages 195-217
Narratives of Intelligence: The Sociotechnical Context of Cognitive Enhancement in American Political Culture....Pages 219-234
Towards responsible use of cognitive-enhancing drugs by the healthy....Pages 235-245
The Opposite of Human Enhancement: Nanotechnology and the Blind Chicken Problem....Pages 247-263
National Citizens’ Technology Forum: Nanotechnologies and Human Enhancement....Pages 265-283
Panelists’ Reports by State: Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin (a–f)....Pages 285-309
Front Matter....Pages 311-311
A Review of Nanoparticle Functionality and Toxicity on the Central Nervous System....Pages 313-332
Recommendations for a Municipal Health & Safety Policy for Nanomaterials....Pages 333-356
Nanotechnology in Cambridge: What Do You Think?....Pages 357-371
Introduction: Ethics and Anticipatory Governance of Nano-Neurotechnological Convergence....Pages 1-17
Back Matter....Pages 393-399
Anticipatory Governance in Practice? Nanotechnology Policy in Cambridge, Massachusetts....Pages 373-392

---

Our brain is the source of everything that makes us human: language, creativity, rationality, emotion, communication, culture, politics. The neurosciences have given us, in recent decades, fundamental new insights into how the brain works and what that means for how we see ourselves as individuals and as communities. Now – with the help of new advances in nanotechnology – brain science proposes to go further: to study its molecular foundations, to repair brain functions, to create mind-machine interfaces, and to enhance human mental capacities in radical ways. This book explores the convergence of these two revolutionary scientific fields and the implications of this convergence for the future of human societies. In the process, the book offers a significant new approach to technology assessment, one which operates in real-time, alongside the innovation process, to inform the ways in which new fields of science and technology emerge in, get shaped by, and help shape human societies.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xi
Front Matter....Pages 19-19
Applications of Nanotechnology to the Brain and Central Nervous System....Pages 21-41
Public Attitudes Towards Nanotechnology-Enabled Cognitive Enhancement in the United States....Pages 43-65
U.S. News Coverage of Neuroscience Nanotechnology: How U.S. Newspapers Have Covered Neuroscience Nanotechnology During the Last Decade....Pages 67-78
Nanotechnology, the Brain, and the Future: Ethical Considerations....Pages 79-96
A New Model for Public Engagement: The Dialogue on Nanotechnology and Religion....Pages 97-111
Front Matter....Pages 113-113
The Age of Neuroelectronics....Pages 115-146
The Cochlear Implant Controversy: Lessons Learned for Using Anticipatory Governance to Address Societal Concerns of Nano-scale Neural Interface Technologies....Pages 147-158
Healing the Blind: Perspectives of Blind Persons on Methods to Restore Sight....Pages 159-166
Nanotechnology, the Brain, and Personal Identity....Pages 167-178
Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects of Brain-Implants Using Nano-Scale Materials and Techniques....Pages 179-191
Front Matter....Pages 193-193
The Complex Cognitive Systems Manifesto....Pages 195-217
Narratives of Intelligence: The Sociotechnical Context of Cognitive Enhancement in American Political Culture....Pages 219-234
Towards responsible use of cognitive-enhancing drugs by the healthy....Pages 235-245
The Opposite of Human Enhancement: Nanotechnology and the Blind Chicken Problem....Pages 247-263
National Citizens’ Technology Forum: Nanotechnologies and Human Enhancement....Pages 265-283
Panelists’ Reports by State: Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin (a–f)....Pages 285-309
Front Matter....Pages 311-311
A Review of Nanoparticle Functionality and Toxicity on the Central Nervous System....Pages 313-332
Recommendations for a Municipal Health & Safety Policy for Nanomaterials....Pages 333-356
Nanotechnology in Cambridge: What Do You Think?....Pages 357-371
Introduction: Ethics and Anticipatory Governance of Nano-Neurotechnological Convergence....Pages 1-17
Back Matter....Pages 393-399
Anticipatory Governance in Practice? Nanotechnology Policy in Cambridge, Massachusetts....Pages 373-392