What is it like to use a BCI? - insights from an interview study with brain-computer interface users

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Bioethics

Background:

• Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) present ethical challenges including safety, autonomy, and privacy.
• Existing literature highlights concerns regarding psychosocial identity and consent in BCI use.
• This study investigates BCI users' lived experiences and their social and ethical implications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess BCI users' self-perceptions and attitudes towards the technology.
• To explore the social and ethical implications of BCI use from the users' perspective.
• To understand how BCIs impact users' sense of agency and self-definition.

Main Methods:

• Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals using BCIs for medical purposes.
• Interview transcripts were analyzed using the Grounded Theory coding method.
• Qualitative data provided insights into user experiences and perceptions.

Main Results:

• BCI users view themselves as active agents, with the technology influencing their self-definition and social participation.
• BCIs offer opportunities for retaining or regaining human capabilities, though they can also challenge user experiences.
• Users perceive the benefits of BCIs, such as promoting valuable qualities, as outweighing potential risks.

Conclusions:

• BCI technology is highly valued for enhancing agency, participation, and self-definition.
• BCIs can restore and enhance human characteristics and abilities, enriching users' lives.
• The technology is seen as a means to enrich life rather than fundamentally altering human nature.