TY - JOUR T1 - Neurotechnologies under the Eye of Bioethics JF - eneuro JO - eNeuro DO - 10.1523/ENEURO.0072-22.2022 VL - 9 IS - 3 SP - ENEURO.0072-22.2022 AU - Catherine Vidal Y1 - 2022/05/01 UR - http://www.eneuro.org/content/9/3/ENEURO.0072-22.2022.abstract N2 - Neurosciences and digital technologies combine into the booming field of “neurotechnologies” (NT). Prospects for medical applications are very promising. If the GAFAM invest millions of dollars in NT, this is not only to develop brain-machine interfaces to overcome disabilities and mental pathologies. There are also commercial issues aimed at the public, via the exploitation of brain data for personal uses and for supervision of individual behaviors. The capacity of NT to “manipulate the brains” calls for vigilance in two particular areas: respect of mental autonomy and protection of brain data. A major issue is to assess whether existing laws on the protection of human rights are sufficient to protect mental privacy or whether new rights - NeuroRights- must be established specifically.The present era is characterized by major advances in neurosciences and in digital technologies. Both combine into a booming field of investigation called “neurotechnologies” (NTs) that result from research into brain pathophysiology, miniaturization of electronic systems, and increasing capacities of computers to process digital data. Implanting microprocessors in the brain, decoding electrical signals produced by neurons, stimulating specific brain regions to modify their activity, are all now possible to be applied to the human brain. Such techniques are already being used successfully in compensating some physical and mental handicaps. The prospects for medical applications are very promising and constitute real progress in improving the quality of life for patients (Donoghue, 2015; Moritz et al., 2016; Vidal, 2019).If the GAFAM (Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft) invest millions of dollars in NT, this is not only to develop brain-machine interfaces designed to overcome disabilities and mental pathologies. Beyond such laudable goals, there are commercial issues aimed at the public, via the exploitation of brain data for personal uses and for … ER -