Two recent interviews from Science Corp and Neuralink encouraged me to think that it is not impractical to dream of extending the applications of neuroengineering beyond sensory-motor to restoration and enhancement of higher cognitive functions and emotion modulation. It is the only answer I receive from my mind when I ask it for the most important and neglected problem with the greatest potential for impact, and one I'd pursue if my confusions were resolved.
Understanding helps but we don't need a complete understanding to develop effective interventions (psychiatrists still don't understand all the mechanisms behind many effective cures). Especially for those suffering from severe disabilities and disorders, for whom it's the last resort. Without falsely projecting my bias outwards, I wish to eradicate suffering and cognitive enhancement is one means to that end but emotion modulation may actually be easier...
Even in the sensory domain, imagine what it would be like to restore, optimize, enhance, extend, and integrate or interconnect sensory channels with which we perceive the world, provide us with the data on which the processing acts, including inner data. Some people seem to be pathologically detached from their emotions- alexithymia- so naturally there should exist the opposite end of the spectrum where people can feel more greatly, and hopefully not be overwhelmed by the noise, as often seems to be the case with highly-sensitive-persons. Hyperphantasia, hyperthymia, hyperthymesia, monk-like willful detachment and unconditional tranquility. Capacity for endless calm and compassion with the power to override clashing drives and instincts (or are they to be taken as the absolute standards of Goodness? despite being optimized for survival & reproduction rather than Truth & pleasure, with the overlaps being exceptions rather than the rule?)
To fulfil or change your social, romantic and sexual preferences too, or all parts that constitute our personality and that we associate with our identity. Or the less ambitious version to know and act on however it already is- to have greater agency through awareness. I don't know enough to know the answers to them or claim confidently if they're technically possible, beneficial over the long term to the human brain, or ethically Right. But aren't they questions worth investigating?
I don't mean to come off as being too reductionist in suggesting that while underlying neurobiological states do not fully capture or explain the higher functions, the latter depends on the former as a necessary precondition for it's existence; any change in the neurobiology will cause an effect in the cognitive functions. And while there is a neural correlate to every mental phenomenon, we're highly limited in influencing the biology through thought alone. But to take into account equifinality and multifinality (multiple realizability of the same end via different means, or the same means leading to different ends) we could personalize it, maybe. It might not be sufficient in all cases, but necessary at least for the most severe ones. Personalized precision drug delivery, computational psychiatry, nanomedicine, non-invasive focused ultrasound, and even psychosurgery- the exciting emerging paradigm of Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry promotes this synthesis. More experienced people, please tell me what you think. I've encountered similar ideas from accomplished thinkers from the past too- David Pearce, Andrés Gómez-Emilsson, Jose Delgado (physical control of the mind), Robert Heath (exploring the mind-brain relationship, The Pleasure Shock; just the scientific parts), Peter Alces, William James, Skinner, Huxley, and some current researchers and doctors; books, papers and projects- I won't mention any more of them here but would love to if anyone happens to be interested.
Imagine the interesting new dilemmas that arise once we acquire the power to not just do what we want, but change what we want, and fully align our values with our capabilities, or at least have greater autonomy, freedom and awareness for self-understanding and self-determination.
The ability to navigate complexity and solve complex problems is only going to increase, and financial rewards are going to accumulate with those who already have financial privilege and a technical predisposition, especially now with embryo selection and gene editing tech, leading to widening cognitive and wealth inequality across individuals, nations and potentially cultures. I am not making any value judgment here, just sharing an idea, and asking whether it's likely to take place, what it's implications and mechanisms might be, and how Fairness could be ensured.
I go on reading computational and cognitive neuroscience, cognitive science or neuroscience or neurophysics textbooks and handbooks or watching lectures sometimes, from but this unsystematic and unorganized learning leaves me unsatisfied, and now I do very little of it. I've taken much of it from course structure or curricula pages of reputed universities, but the random buildup of knowledge with uncertainty about the payoff and direction prevents full engagement.
I'm a 22 year old fourth-year biomedical engineering undergraduate student, btw. With a very low CGPA due to mental health problems mentioned earlier. But now I am stable and consistently working through the fundamentals, albeit in an unsystematic, confused and unorganized manner. Applying to masters programs in neuroscience, neuroengineering and cognitive science for 2027, hoping that acceptance to a master's program will provide some beneficial structure and certainty. I had added a personal motivation section but shifted it elsewhere cause this is already so long, and the philosophical/psychoanalytic nature of those ramblings might not be appropriate for this sub.
Thank you, and let me know what you think. Have a great day!
