Neurotech for Good: BCIs and Mental Health
In a world where technology often leads to negative mental health outcomes, could advances around the corner change the conversation?
Note: We'll be off next week and back delivering insights on June 5 - we wish all our US readers a Happy Memorial Day!
In a bustling college classroom, where rows of seats rose like a theater, a hundred of us gathered at Harvard Divinity School. As the panelists took their places, including a man in a serene white robe and two PhD students, a hush fell over the room. With gentle words, they ushered us into a realm of mindfulness, setting the stage for an inner journey that would resonate deeply within each of us.
Guided by the rhythm of our breath—eight counts in, eight counts out—our minds surrendered to a tranquil state. The atmosphere grew so serene that when the gong sounded, breaking the stillness, it left us oddly disappointed. But then, we quickly found ourselves amidst a collection of mindfulness devices. A shimmering orb to my right pulsed in harmony with heartbeats, casting a soothing spell. Before me, a virtual reality experience plunged me into the depths of potential grief through the simulation of a loved one's funeral. And to my left, a reflective device offered a dialogue with my inner self, a space to confront personal challenges.
All of these devices were brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) of sorts. They tapped into specific neural experiences often neglected in our screen-saturated lives. And the result was refreshing---the whole experience was one of profound joy and significance.
Reflecting on more than four years of my own neuroscience research, I could not help but consider how BCIs like these could one day course-correct us away from our screen addiction and support our mental health and mindfulness needs.
Right now, we probably overuse technology on a day-to-day basis, yielding questionable effects to our cognitive functioning, physical health, and social interactions. Our brain's “reward system” is activated by screens, causing a constant dopamine feedback loop, similar to those found in the brains of drug users. The brain releases dopamine and other feel-good chemicals when there is an expectation followed by reward, such as winning a level of a video game, or getting “likes” on a social media post. We’re left in a constant state of yearning for more.
As a result, there has been a worrying uptick in anxiety and depression rates linked to tech usage. We have an urgent need for improved mental health support and awareness, but mental health is often stigmatized, and digital media is now crucial to our economy. The endless loops continue.
A different world can exist. One where we appeal to our innate curiosity and desire for exploration, as today’s technology does, while displacing the negative loops. We can use technology itself to improve mental health outcomes if we can do so with intention and care. Or, as I like to say, If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Let’s take a look at just a few of the innovative companies that are embedding neurology within tech to drive better outcomes:
Neuralink: Perhaps one of the most well-known BCI companies, Neuralink uses tiny chips implanted in the brain to read and transmit brain impulses to an app placed in front of the patient. The app then produces outputs based on the user's thoughts. Imagine a world where an implantable chip deciphers real-time patterns, yielding personalized treatments to specific neuro disorders and mitigating issues with the process of seeking therapy.
Neurable: Invasive brain implants too much to handle? Imagine throwing on a headset that enables you to work smarter and avoid burnout. Neurable’s technology can analyze when and where you focus best so you can optimize your day.
Myndlift: Through an electroencephalogram (EEG) headband that detects brain activity, this company aims to improve focus with personalized brain training and act as your personal meditation coach. Advanced sensors accurately measure your bio signals, while gentle audio cues deliver real-time feedback to bring your focus back to the present. How nifty would that be during stressful times of your life?
As we anticipate BCIs becoming more mainstream, even current-day technologies can be adapted to our mental health needs. With Virtual Reality Exposure (VRE) therapy, users confront and manage fears or trauma in a safe and controlled VR headset setting. Imagine you are afraid of heights, but instead of getting placed on top of a cliff, you can experience a 3-D environment of a fast-moving glass elevator to conquer your fear. AI can also enable more customized mental health care. On top of gathering session notes, monitoring progress, and more, imagine if AI could also help analyze our digital footprint (with our consent!). Rather than relying on our words, therapists could study our digital actions to assess how they influence our moods and behaviors.
There are many more examples of the power of neurotech, but if you’re like me, some of this is also starting to sound a bit… dystopian. Amidst the groundbreaking strides in BCIs lies a solemn reality. Perhaps even a Pandora's box of ethical dilemmas: privacy, consent, and the risk of cognitive manipulation or enhancement. There are potential risks ranging from becoming overly dependent on machines for emotional and cognitive needs, to companies compromising our deeply private data or thoughts, to possibly eroding some of the human connections we cherish.
I don’t have easy answers for these risks as yet. Few do. As with any technology, we must proceed with caution, navigating with our moral compasses to stay on the path towards greater well-being for all. Our journey of neurotech is just at its first inflection point, but its destination is shaped by the choices we make today.
If we make the right choices, neurotech can assist with mental health accessibility while it optimizes our cognitive abilities with the utmost personalization. It could revolutionize how we engage with our networks and even the very idea of therapy.
All of this potential sets the stage for a future where our minds and machines are more closely connected than ever before, allowing mental health professionals, educators, and policymakers to address growing mental health needs more effectively. So, as we venture to explore more of the unknown frontiers of brain science, let us not forget that what is most important is nurturing the values and experiences that ground us. Whether we’re sitting in a solemn environment at a divinity school, or connecting with people across the globe online, we could use technology to feel more present, not less. That foundation can imbue our neurotech explorations with the purpose of more hopeful futures.
Nichole Bozyk | Deloitte Consulting LLP