The rise of neurosocial networks

Transcription

1 The rise of neurosocial networks Dr Andrew Vladimirov

2 Key terms Brain data - for the purpose of this presentation, any data derived from the brain (mainly EEG, but may also include very slow potentials, DC, fnirs data and even emission in optical spectrum and acoustic waves) Neurosocial network - a network that relies upon direct B2B (brain-to-brain) communications between multiple users who share selected sets of brain data, a step towards a digital noosphere Neurosocial RW (read-write) - scenarios when such communications also involve controlled neurostimulation, so the direct (non-sensory) input is also provided

3 The components ( brainware ) BCI are the ultimate wearables! and so are neurostimulation devices (non-invasive and safe, so we are talking weak signal stimulation which is modulatory in nature) But the penultimate wearable is BCI and neurostimulator combined so that the stimulation effects can be measured and controlled in real time (full feedback loop) Virtual reality devices and peripheral wearables will be added to the concoction The media (can be any social network plugin or standalone) and communication protocols / file formats

4 The current state of affairs BCI are increasingly popular (Mindwave, Muse, Emotiv, Lemon, TSK... ) End-user (electro)neurostimulators are already available (Foc.us, Thync, DIY tdcs kits). The current state of sensor/data gathering, not to mention neurostimulation devices, still resembles pre- Internet, or even pre-lan computing! Even devices from the same vendor are not internetworked while being computer-controlled! - taken from a 2014 presentation If something can be networked (and I don t mean just PAN or LAN!), it will be. So, just as there is IoT, the birth of IoB is inevitable (although it will also include data from peripheral wearables casually used in biofeedback)

5 Technical developments Measurement contactless sensors for EEG-like measurements high sensor density for lower price neural dust further down the road (although that s invasive!) improved understanding of relations between the measured signal and actual consciousness states via machine learning, use of AI, increased resolution, use of selective ligands, molecular level mapping etc Stimulation (currently electric only for end-user devices) ultrasound and infrasound, transcranial light (coherent and decoherent), weak (from mt to possibly nt range if effects are proven) magnetic fields, radiofrequency range (e.g. dm waves) stim further down the road single sensor-stimulator units for simultaneous measurement novel molecular or even subatomic level selectivity stimulation protocols will take into account both the pre-stim brain state (such as that of the default mode network (DMN)) and that of the stimulation environment

6 Business use cases It ll all start from gaming and entertainment joining with virtual reality Neuromarketing (read-only!) Corporate use (brainstorming, training, coaching, peak performance enhancement) Military (also an early adopter, especially on the RW side) Education (performance control, peak performance) Team sports (performance control, peak performance) and collective self-improvement (e.g. in cognition enhancement and meditation practices) Semi-medical (collective psychotherapy / counselling) Medical (ironically, will join last due to regulations)

7 Architectures Data collection-only (neuromarketing), collection + neurofeedback, collection + neurofeedback + feedbackcontrolled stimulation Brain-data-as-a-service (BDaaS), neurofeedback-as-aservice (NFaaS), neurostimulation-as-a-service (NSaaS) Public decentralised, peer-to-peer (including blockchain - based), centralised (e.g. plugins to existing social networks) - gaming, entertainment, self-improvement, neuromarketing, open education initiatives Private centralised - military, corporate, medical, semimedical Hybrid centralised or decentralised - education, research

8 Of adaptation Of use Specific Risks Public acceptance (isn t the most private data stored inside your skull? However, acceptance criteria may dramatically change!) Over-regulation (especially where stimulation is involved) development of addiction, especially in gaming and entertainment, and especially if combined with drugs of abuse employing stimulation or even neurofeedback in neuromarketing novel information security challenges unauthorised access/privilege escalation in regard to both brain data and system capabilities including stimulation brain malware (triggered by brain data patterns / triggering them) side channel BCI/stimulation attacks assisted (neuro)social engineering attacks

9 Disclaimer These slides were finished today at 3:40 AM under the influence of a weak (27 mt) magnetic field combined with transcranial laser (890 nm, 100 mw) (yet) proprietary stimulation protocol. No animals were enhanced in process.