Emerging Neurosociety Driven by Neuronanotechnology. Brain Waves: The field of neurotechnology, the focus of this blog, encompasses advances in brain science (neurons), information technology (bits) and bioengineering (genes). Up for discussion and analysis: the political, economic, ethical, and social forces that will shape the future of what will be one of the most important and fascinating stories of the coming decades.

About this author

Zack Lynch is author of The Neuro Revolution: How Brain Science Is Changing Our World (St. Martin's Press, July 2009).
He is the founder and executive director of the Neurotechnology Industry Organization (NIO) and co-founder of NeuroInsights. He serves on the advisory boards of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, the Center for Neuroeconomic Studies, Science Progress, and SocialText, a social software company. Please send newsworthy items or feedback - to Zack Lynch.
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July 17, 2006

Emerging Neurosociety Driven by Neuronanotechnology

Posted by Zack Lynch

This Thursday in Vermont I'll be giving a talk on the social and ethical implications of perception shifting in a neurosociety. Hosted by the Terasem Movement, this workshop on Geoethical Nanotechnology is bringing together several others to explore the ethics of neuronanotechnology and future mind-machine interfaces (my powerpoint presentation is available for download on the conference website).

This year's speakers by order of presentation are: Nobel Laureate in Medicine Baruch Blumberg, M.D., Ph.D., Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia,; Prof. Jack Tuszynski, Department of Physics, University of Alberta; Randal Koene, Ph.D., Center for Memory & Brain, Boston University; Ben Goertzel, Ph.D., Biomind LLC; Ray Kurzweil, Kurzweil Technologies; William Sims Bainbridge, Ph.D., National Science Foundation; Marshall Brain, Founder, "How Stuff Works"; Nancy J. Woolf, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, UCLA; Zack Lynch, President, NeuroInsights; and Wrye Sententia, Ph.D., Director, Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics.

Speakers will explore the ethics of neuronanotechnology and future mind-machine interfaces, including preservation of consciousness, implications for a future in which human and digital species merge, and dispersion of consciousness to the cosmos, featuring leading scientists and other experts in these areas. The workshop proceedings are open to the public via real-time conference call and will be archived online for free public access. The public is invited to call a toll-free conference-call dial-in line from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET. Callers from the continental US and Canada can dial 1-800-967-7135; other countries: (00+1) 719-457-2626. Each workshop presentation is designed for a 15-20 minute delivery, followed by a 20 minute formal question and answer period, during which time questions from the worldwide audience will be invited. Presentations will also be available on the workshop's website.

Comments (3) + TrackBacks (0) | Category: Neurosociety

COMMENTS

1. Kensai on July 17, 2006 2:35 PM writes...

I wish soon enough you stage such a conference somewhere in the European Union as well...

Constantine

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2. I. M. Notnt on July 20, 2006 8:18 PM writes...

I am very interested in the research of any externally admissible compound
that may inhibit classical NT behavior. Of most urgent need is the ability to divest NT individuals of:
- Omniscient powers
- Flock behavior
- Ardent self-righteousness

Specifically, the ability to diagnose non-NT individuals when they disagree with an NT point of view. The intolerance of disagreement by the NT afflicted may be traceable to significant events in history particularly where 99.6% [hypothesized value] of a given population decides that 99.6% of another population does not agree with their point of view. This clash of "Minds" [not to insult anyone with a mind I have used quotation marks] can precipitate ethnic cleansing [genocide] or even international war. The result is violence requiring the most severely NT to enlist [flock] in organized military activities and does not usually end until significant amount of collective NT social pain [death and injury] have been sustained.
Discovery of a cheap and effective compound for the relief of the pervasive NT affliction [pandemic] would be a major breakthrough for Mankind [Person kind] and would undoubtedly be a financial success on the order of current medial expenditures [lets all feed at the trough] !
Please forward me any information you may have immediately as I am surrounded by these poor NT soles who are incapable of thinking for themselves and lacking the courage of original thought.

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3. Ivon Alexander Nestoly on November 14, 2007 3:48 PM writes...

I was interested as a ginny-pig, or as a victim(one could say), how would you remove any type of neurotechnological devices, chips, or anytype of implant? Just curious, and is it safe to remove, or is going to make me have a mind of a four year old....jk? But really, and if so, how soon, and how is the procedure?

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