A Two-Axis Framework to Map Reasons for Neurotechnology Use

Neurotechnologies, tools for recording, analyzing, and manipulating brain activity, are increasingly used for enhancement beyond their traditional roles in diagnosis and rehabilitation, introducing new challenges and risks. To navigate these ethical complexities, we propose a two-axis framework: “recovery” and “discovery”. Recovery refers more closely to rehabilitative applications, while discovery pertains more to enhancement-related uses, but there are also plenty of hybrid cases, which belong to an ethical “gray zone”. Our framework aids in analyzing neurotechnology use at individual, social, and cultural levels, helping to answer “what for, how, and why” questions. We also address “neuroenchantment”—the persuasive influence of these technologies—which can distort beliefs and impair critical thinking, leading to poor risk assessment. This framework helps identify such dangers, offering insights into medical, therapeutic, and regulatory strategies.

In: Hagedorn, L., Schmid, U., Winter, S., Woltran, S. (Hg.) Digital Humanism. DIGHUM 2025. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 16319. Cham: Springer