Neurotechnology is any tool that directly, exogenously observes or manipulates the state of biological nervous systems, especially the human brain.

Familiar examples include electrode-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), antidepressant drugs, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It has been argued that BCIs specifically could make robust totalitarianism significantly more likely, and that such devices should for that reason be regarded as an existential risk factor.^[1]

Further reading

Faraheny, Nita., 80,000 Hours (2023) Nita Farahany on the neurotechnology already being used to convict criminals and manipulate workers, The 80,000 Hours Podcast

Hill, N. J. & J. R. Wolpaw (2016) Brain–computer interface, in Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences, Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Hannas, William et al. (2020) China AI-brain research: brain-inspired AI, connectomics, brain-computer interfaces, Center for Security and Emerging Technology.

LessWrong (2021) Brain-computer interfaces, LessWrong Wiki.

Tullis, Paul (2020) The brain-computer interface is coming, and we are so not ready for it, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, September 15.

1. ^

   Rafferty, Jack (2020) A new x-risk factor: brain-computer interfaces, Effective Altruism Forum, August 10.