Neurotechnology is growing fast — new devices for the brain and nervous system promise everything from restored mobility to enhanced cognition. But this rapid growth has outpaced the ethical, regulatory, and societal frameworks needed to guide it responsibly.
A new publication in Frontiers in Neurology (Ashouri et al., 2026), part of the FUTUREBODY project where Biofaction was a partner, explores neurotechnology through the perspectives of its users and its role as a societal field in its own right. Co-authored by Markus Schmidt and Sandra Youssef of Biofaction, the review draws together four complementary domains: neuroethics and embodiment, the cultural embedding of neurotechnologies, art and culture in relation to neurotechnology, and human enhancement and sociotechnical imaginaries.
Rather than treating neurotechnology as a purely technical or medical matter, the authors highlight a persistent asymmetry: the gap in communication between scientists and entrepreneurs developing these technologies and the individuals and communities who ultimately use them. Drawing on real cases — from abandoned implants to misleading commercial claims — the paper argues that closing this gap requires more balanced, inclusive, and symmetric forms of engagement, empowering users and stakeholders regardless of their status or expertise.
Read the whole publication:
Ashouri, D., Weh, L., Borrmann, V., Coenen, C., Kraft, E. M., Loufs, V., Mehnert, W., Muhr, P., Müller, O., Şahinol, M., Schmidt, M., Seyfried, G., Soedibjo, K., Stewart, I. E., Wolbring, G., Youssef, S., & Stieglitz, T. (2026). Neurotechnology through the lens of users and as a novel field for society. Frontiers in Neurology, 17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2026.1842746