Data Publication for: Public attitudes towards neurotechnology: Findings from two experiments concerning Brain Stimulation Devices (BSDs) and Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs)

This study contributes to the emerging literature on public perceptions of neurotechnological devices (NTDs) in their medical and non-medical applications, depending on their invasiveness, framing effects, and interindividual differences related to personal needs and values. We conducted two web-based between-subject experiments (2×2×2) using a representative, nation-wide sample of the adult population in Germany. Using vignettes describing how two NTDs, brain stimulation devices (BSDs; N Experiment 1=1,090) and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs; N Experiment 2=1,089), function, we randomly varied the purpose (treatment vs. enhancement) and invasiveness (noninvasive vs. invasive) of the NTD, and assessed framing effects (variable order of assessing moral acceptability first vs. willingness to use first). We found a moderate moral acceptance and willingness to use BSDs and BCIs. Respondents preferred treatment over enhancement purposes and noninvasive over invasive devices. We also found a framing effect and explored the role of personal characteristics as indicators of personal needs and values (e.g., stress, religiosity, and gender). Our results suggest that the future demand for BSDs or BCIs may depend on the purpose, invasiveness, and personal needs and values. These insights can inform technology developers about the public’s needs and concerns, and enrich legal and ethical debates.

本研究丰富了关于公众对神经技术设备（NTDs）在医疗和非医疗应用中的认知的文献，该认知取决于其侵入性、框架效应以及与个人需求和价值观相关的个体差异。本研究通过两项基于网络的跨被试实验（2×2×2），使用了代表德国成年人口的全国性样本。通过描述两种NTDs——脑刺激设备（BSDs；实验1样本量N=1,090）和脑机接口（BCIs；实验2样本量N=1,089）的功能的情景，我们随机变化了NTDs的目的（治疗 vs. 增强）和侵入性（非侵入性 vs. 侵入性），并评估了框架效应（先评估道德可接受性还是先评估使用意愿的变量顺序）。我们发现对BSDs和BCIs的道德接受度和使用意愿适中。受访者更喜欢治疗目的而非增强目的，以及非侵入性设备而非侵入性设备。我们还发现了框架效应，并探讨了个人特征作为个人需求和价值观指标的作用（例如，压力、宗教信仰和性别）。我们的研究结果暗示，对BSDs或BCIs的未来需求可能取决于目的、侵入性、个人需求和价值观。这些洞见可为技术开发者提供公众需求和担忧的信息，并丰富法律和伦理辩论。