Treatment vs. Enhancement

Emerging neurotechnologies possess the ability to modulate the brain, offering promising treatments for a wide range of disorders and paving the way for significant medical advancements. However, their potential to enhance brain capabilities beyond natural limits is equally alluring, particularly in a fast-paced world that values productivity and excellence. Learn more below about these different possible motivations for neurotech innovation, and their larger implications.

Treatment

Innovation in neuroscience has the potential to help people in unprecedented ways. Deep brain stimulators can help people with Parkinson’s function independently in day-to-day life. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) devices are being developed right now to help emergency states of depression, by experts like Nolan Williams at Stanford. Even virtual realities and digital therapeutics are on the rise in this sector, such as video games that train focus skills for people with ADHD, or simulations that teach stress management skills to those with PTSD that train people to build coping strategies for mental illness.

Learn from Neurotracker about exciting recently-developed treatments in neuroscience

Enhancement

Enhancement, however, is incredibly tempting for entrepreneurs. In a world that prioritizes speed and productivity and is more excited about technology than ever, people are looking for ways to focus more and improve cognition, creativity, and even mood.

In the words of Martha J. Farah, professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania:

“While enhancing human cognition could improve well-being, it could also lead to new social pressures, exacerbate existing inequalities, or even change what we value in human beings. What if some people become 'better' versions of themselves, and others, by comparison, seem inadequate?"

Learn from this expert opinion piece on neuroenhancement and its challenges to authenticity

Due to the simultaneous potential to help and to harm, innovation in neurotech is packed with both pros and cons.

Potential Pros

**1. More people have the ability and energy to make an impact on the world**
**2. Increased human potential**
**3. Those who struggle with focus and mood are able to perform better**

Potential Cons

**1. Technologies are not equally distributed, enhancing existing inequalities (and creating new ones)**
**2. Standard of productivity spirals out of control**
**3. Decreased tolerance for normal human flaws**

In considering these risk-benefit tradeoffs, it is important to understand a company’s motivation in creating a neuroscience-based product, and how they value ethics and social impact vs. pure economic gain and status.