Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness
Published on: August 1, 2017
Decentralising the Self - Ethical Considerations in Utilizing Decentralised Web Technology for Direct Brain
David M Lyreskog1,2, Hazem Zohny3,4, Sebastian Porsdam Mann5
1Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Warneford Ln, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK. david.lyreskog@psych.ox.ac.uk.
None:
The rapidly advancing field of brain-computer (BCI) and brain-to-brain interfaces (BBI) is stimulating interest across various sectors including medicine, entertainment, research, and military. The developers of large-scale brain-computer networks, sometimes dubbed 'Mindplexes' or 'Cloudminds', aim to enhance cognitive functions by distributing them across expansive networks. A key technical challenge is the efficient transmission and storage of information. One proposed solution is employing blockchain technology over Web 3.0 to create decentralised cognitive entities. This paper explores the potential of a decentralised web for coordinating large brain-computer constellations, and its associated benefits, focusing in particular on the conceptual and ethical challenges this innovation may pose pertaining to (1) Identity, (2) Sovereignty (encompassing Autonomy, Authenticity, and Ownership), (3) Responsibility and Accountability, and (4) Privacy, Safety, and Security. We suggest that while a decentralised web can address some concerns and mitigate certain risks, underlying ethical issues persist. Fundamental questions about entity definition within these networks, the distinctions between individuals and collectives, and responsibility distribution within and between networks, demand further exploration.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Reason and Intuition
Neuronal Communication
Brain Imaging
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
Parallel Processing
Social Foundations of Self IV: Self in Digital Communication

