Have you ever used a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)? | | |
Yes, I am currently using one | 6 | (0.7) |
Yes, but I no longer use it | 7 | (0.9) |
No, never | 793 | (98.4) |
What type of BCI technology have you been using? † * | | |
Electroencephalography (EEG | 2 | (12.5) |
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) | 2 | (12.5) |
Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) | 1 | (6.3) |
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) | 7 | (43.7) |
Electrocorticography (ECoG), a type of intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) | 2 | (12.5) |
I’m not sure | 2 | (12.5) |
For what purpose have you been using a BCI? † * | | |
For medical purposes | 9 | (64.3) |
For non-medical purposes | 5 | (35.7) |
How much do you know about BCIs? | | |
I don’t know much but I have already heard of BCIs | 276 | (34.2) |
I know a lot about BCIs | 7 | (0.9) |
Nothing, I had never heard of BCIs before | 523 | (64.9) |
Which of the following BCI devices have you heard about? ‡ * | | |
Hearing aid with brain implant component | 163 | (46.8) |
Neuralink (Owned by Elon Musk) | 161 | (46.3) |
Synchron (Stentrode) | 7 | (2.0) |
Others | 17 | (4.9) |
Which of the following BCI technologies have you heard about? ‡ * | | |
Electroencephalography (EEG) | 119 | (28.2) |
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) | 25 | (5.9) |
Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) | 22 | (5.2) |
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) | 121 | (28.7) |
Electrocorticography (EcoG), a type of intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) | 25 | (5.9) |
None of the above | 110 | (26.1) |
Where have you heard or read about BCIs? ‡ * | | |
In the news (on TV, radio, online or printed newspaper) | 212 | (44.5) |
On online forums | 69 | (14.5) |
From friends & family | 44 | (9.2) |
From colleagues at work | 34 | (7.1) |
From my GP, nurse, or another healthcare professional | 23 | (4.8) |
Through advertisement | 12 | (2.5) |
In the scientific literature | 57 | (12.0) |
Other | 25 | (5.3) |
In which of the following fields do you think BCIs are already being used? * | | |
Health care & assistive technology (e.g.: to support patients with paralysis or for stroke rehabilitation) | 719 | (38.6) |
Education & learning (e.g.: to address learning disabilities) | 364 | (19.5) |
Entertainment & recreational use (e.g.: for gaming or sports) | 191 | (10.3) |
Workplace (e.g.: to track & improve productivity) | 122 | (6.6) |
Marketing & commerce (e.g.: for targeted advertisement & personalised needs assessments) | 103 | (5.5) |
Military, police & security use (e.g.: lie detection) | 357 | (19.2) |
Other | 6 | (0.3) |
In which of the following fields do you think BCIs are currently being designed & tested (still at the experimental stage & not yet being used)? * |
Health care & assistive technology (e.g.: to support patients with paralysis, stroke rehabilitation) | 443 | (19.3) |
Education & learning (e.g.: to address learning disabilities) | 426 | (18.6) |
Entertainment & recreational use (e.g.: gaming, sports) | 370 | (16.2) |
Workplace (e.g.: to track & improve productivity) | 356 | (15.6) |
Marketing & commerce (e.g.: for targeted advertisements & personalised needs assessments) | 287 | (12.5) |
Military, police & security use (e.g.: lie detection) | 403 | (17.6) |
Other | 4 | (0.2) |
In which of the following fields do you think BCIs should be designed, tested & used? * |
Health care & assistive technology (e.g.: to support patients with paralysis, stroke rehabilitation) | 751 | (31.9) |
Education & learning (e.g.: to address learning disabilities) | 633 | (26.8) |
Entertainment & recreational use (e.g.: gaming, sports) | 244 | (10.3) |
Workplace (e.g.: to track & improve productivity) | 206 | (8.7) |
Marketing & commerce (e.g.: for targeted advertisements & personalised needs assessments) | 108 | (4.6) |
Military, police & security use (e.g.: lie detection) | 412 | (17.5) |
Other | 4 | (0.2) |
What type of BCI would you personally consider using? * | | |
Complete paralysis |
Invasive | 632 | (57.4) |
Non-invasive | 409 | (37.1) |
I would not consider using any BCI | 61 | (5.5) |
Partial paralysis | | |
Invasive | 489 | (46.4) |
Non-invasive | 501 | (47.6) |
I would not consider using any BCI | 63 | (6.0) |
Weakness in my arms or legs | | |
Invasive | 174 | (19.2) |
Non-invasive | 633 | (69.8) |
I would not consider using any BCI | 100 | (11.0) |
Stroke rehabilitation | | |
Invasive | 329 | (33.6) |
Non-invasive | 598 | (61.1) |
I would not consider using any BCI | 52 | (5.3) |
Speech impediment | | |
Invasive | 221 | (24.2) |
Non-invasive | 593 | (65.0) |
I would not consider using any BCI | 98 | (10.8) |
Visual impairment | | |
Invasive | 330 | (34.0) |
Non-invasive | 554 | (57.0) |
I would not consider using any BCI | 88 | (9.0) |
Lack of control of my bladder | | |
Invasive | 312 | (32.1) |
Non-invasive | 543 | (55.9) |
I would not consider using any BCI | 117 | (12.0) |
Lack of control of my bowels | | |
Invasive | 343 | (35.0) |
Non-invasive | 531 | (54.0) |
I would not consider using any BCI | 108 | (11.0) |
Parkinson’s disease | | |
Invasive | 525 | (49.8) |
Non-invasive | 472 | (44.7) |
I would not consider using any BCI | 58 | (5.5) |
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) | | |
Invasive | 99 | (11.5) |
Non-invasive | 493 | (57.4) |
I would not consider using any BCI | 267 | (31.1) |
Dementia | | |
Invasive | 416 | (41.1) |
Non-invasive | 517 | (51.0) |
I would not consider using any BCI | 80 | (7.9) |
Depression | | |
Invasive | 92 | (10.6) |
Non-invasive | 483 | (55.9) |
I would not consider using any BCI | 289 | (33.5) |
Anxiety | | |
Invasive | 69 | (8.1) |
Non-invasive | 465 | (54.9) |
I would not consider using any BCI | 313 | (37.0) |
To enhance my physical abilities (strength, speed) | | |
Invasive | 85 | (10.0) |
Non-invasive | 305 | (35.7) |
I would not consider using any BCI | 463 | (54.3) |
To enhance my cognitive abilities (memory, attention, etc) | | |
Invasive | 103 | (12.0) |
Non-invasive | 390 | (45.5) |
I would not consider using any BCI | 364 | (42.5) |
Would you consider getting a BCI for any other reason not listed above? | | |
Yes | 38 | (4.7) |
No | 768 | (95.3) |
What would prevent you from getting an invasive BCI (requiring a surgical procedure)? * |
High cost of buying & maintaining the device | 541 | (12.0) |
Stigma of having a medical device implanted | 93 | (2.1) |
Complexity & risk of the surgical procedure to IMPLANT the BCI | 595 | (13.2) |
Complexity & risk of the surgical procedure to REMOVE the BCI | 518 | (11.5) |
Postoperative care (including attending further appointments) | 234 | (5.2) |
Risks in case the BCI stops working or malfunctions | 499 | (11.0) |
Limited effectiveness of the BCI | 226 | (5.0) |
Concern the BCI may alter my personality | 246 | (5.4) |
Concern the BCI may alter my mood | 203 | (4.5) |
Lack of evidence & historical perspective regarding BCIs | 479 | (10.6) |
Enabling further access to personal data | 169 | (3.7) |
Risk of hacking of the device | 289 | (6.4) |
General distrust in BCIs & the companies selling them | 190 | (4.2) |
Aesthetics (it may not look good) | 146 | (3.2) |
Lack of support or agreement from my family & friends | 58 | (1.3) |
Lack of support or agreement from my religious community | 22 | (0.5) |
Other | 10 | (0.2) |
How important are the following factors in influencing your decision to get an invasive BCI? ** |
High cost of buying & maintaining the device | | |
Unimportant | 6 | (1.3) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 33 | (7) |
Important | 433 | (91.7) |
Stigma of having a medical device implanted | | |
Unimportant | 8 | (9.6) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 24 | (28.9) |
Important | 51 | (61.5) |
Complexity & risk of the surgical procedure to IMPLANT the BCI | | |
Unimportant | 2 | (0.4) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 10 | (2) |
Important | 501 | (97.6) |
Complexity & risk of the surgical procedure to REMOVE the BCI | | |
Unimportant | 4 | (0.9) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 9 | (2) |
Important | 434 | (97.1) |
Postoperative care (including attending further appointments) | | |
Unimportant | 99 | (47.7) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 2 | (1) |
Important | 106 | (51.2) |
Risks in case the BCI stops working or malfunctions | | |
Unimportant | 4 | (0.9) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 10 | (2.3) |
Important | 420 | (96.8) |
Limited effectiveness of the BCI | | |
Unimportant | 1 | (0.5) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 12 | (6.1) |
Important | 183 | (93.4) |
Concern the BCI may alter my personality | | |
Unimportant | 7 | (3.2) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 10 | (4.6) |
Important | 202 | (92.2) |
Concern the BCI may alter my mood | | |
Unimportant | 3 | (1.6) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 12 | (6.5) |
Important | 171 | (91.9) |
Lack of evidence & historical perspective regarding BCIs | | |
Unimportant | 4 | (1) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 35 | (8.3) |
Important | 382 | (90.7) |
Enabling further access to personal data | | |
Unimportant | 9 | (6.1) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 16 | (10.9) |
Important | 122 | (83) |
Risk of hacking of the device | | |
Unimportant | 100 | (40.2) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 6 | (2.4) |
Important | 143 | (57.4) |
General distrust in BCIs & the companies selling them | | |
Unimportant | 6 | (3.7) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 12 | (7.3) |
Important | 146 | (89) |
Aesthetics (it may not look good) | | |
Unimportant | 8 | (6.2) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 21 | (16.3) |
Important | 100 | (77.5) |
Lack of support or agreement from my family & friends | | |
Unimportant | 3 | (6.1) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 9 | (18.4) |
Important | 37 | (75.5) |
Lack of support or agreement from my religious community | | |
Unimportant | 3 | (17.7) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 4 | (23.5) |
Important | 10 | (58.8) |
Other | | |
Unimportant | 2 | (22.2) |
Neither important nor unimportant | 4 | (44.5) |
Important | 3 | (33.3) |
How long do you think it will be before BCIs become the new normal in the UK? | | |
Less than a year | 4 | (0.5) |
2 to 5 years | 69 | (8.6) |
6 to 10 years | 177 | (22.0) |
More than 10 years | 396 | (49.1) |
BCIs will never be used so broadly | 160 | (19.8) |
To what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding BCIs in general (both invasive & non-invasive)? |
“I’m worried about the effect of BCIs being widely available to the public” | | |
Disagree | 216 | (26.8) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 240 | (29.8) |
Agree | 350 | (43.4) |
“I’m excited for the potential that BCIs can bring for society” | | |
Disagree | 141 | (17.5) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 226 | (28.0) |
Agree | 439 | (54.5) |
“People with BCIs will be more productive in their work” | | |
Disagree | 162 | (20.1) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 438 | (54.3) |
Agree | 206 | (25.6) |
“People with BCIs will feel superior to those without” | | |
Disagree | 291 | (36.1) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 297 | (36.9) |
Agree | 218 | (27.0) |
“BCIs will lead to an increase in inequalities” | | |
Disagree | 189 | (23.4) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 294 | (36.5) |
Agree | 323 | (40.1) |
“I’m worried BCIs may be implanted without proper consent” | | |
Disagree | 255 | (31.6) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 177 | (22.0) |
Agree | 374 | (46.4) |
“BCIs will increase stigmatisation & pathologisation of people with disability” | | |
Disagree | 314 | (39.0) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 271 | (33.6) |
Agree | 221 | (27.4) |
“Use of invasive BCIs in healthy patients is morally wrong” | | |
Disagree | 147 | (18.2) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 257 | (31.9) |
Agree | 402 | (49.9) |
“Invasive BCIs should be reserved to people with physical and/or cognitive disabilities” |
Disagree | 88 | (10.9) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 195 | (24.2) |
Agree | 523 | (64.9) |
“I support strict regulation in the development & use of BCIs even if it means technological progress” |
Disagree | 24 | (3.0) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 113 | (14.0) |
Agree | 669 | (83.0) |
“BCIs for medical purposes should be reimbursed by the NHS or insurance companies” |
Disagree | 47 | (5.8) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 220 | (27.3) |
Agree | 539 | (66.9) |
“BCIs for healthy people should be reimbursed by the government or insurance companies” |
Disagree | 458 | (56.8) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 200 | (24.8) |
Agree | 148 | (18.4) |
“BCIs should not be accessible to children (under 18 years old)” | | |
Disagree | 152 | (18.9) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 269 | (33.4) |
Agree | 385 | (47.7) |