Public Perceptions of Neurotechnologies Used to Target Mood, Memory, and Motor Symptoms

Public attitudes toward four neurotechnologies for treating three types of brain disorders (mood, motor, and memory) vary on a range of metrics such as perceived risk, invasiveness, and likelihood of use. In a survey of 1,052 U.S. participants, deep brain stimulation (DBS) was seen as the most invasive and risky among the surveyed methods, involving the greatest perceived change to the person and the least likely to be used personally. Non-surgical options like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and pills were viewed as more acceptable. Devices targeting motor symptoms were rated as more beneficial and acceptable than those for mood or memory. These findings highlight barriers to adoption and the need to address public perceptions, ensure patients are informed, and promote ethical implementation of these technologies.