Il cervello è nudo | Guido Scorza | TEDxLecco

The Exposed Brain and a Personal Story

• The discussion begins with the assertion that the brain is exposed, prompting the question of what happens next. This sets the stage for a personal story that unfolds nearly 20 years ago. (29s)
• The narrator recounts receiving a call from their mother, who requested a visit without rushing, a phrase she often used due to the narrator's habit of moving quickly around Rome on a scooter. (59s)
• The mother had undergone blood tests, and the laboratory called to suggest a hematological consultation due to abnormal white blood cell counts. This prompted the narrator to search for a skilled hematologist. (1m36s)
• Using online resources, the narrator anticipated a diagnosis of leukemia, which was later confirmed as acute myeloid leukemia by a renowned hematologist in a Roman clinic. The prognosis was grim, but there was a commitment to fight the disease. (2m12s)

Diagnosis and Initial Treatment

• Over the following months, the family focused on achieving remission and a bone marrow transplant, which were eventually accomplished with significant effort and suffering. (2m42s)
• The story, which is deeply personal, is shared to encourage reflection. An interaction with a nurse, who advised not to have too many illusions about the remission, highlighted the fleeting nature of the achieved goals. (3m22s)

Fleeting Remission and Foreboding

• The nurse pointed out a specific value in the blood tests that would indicate the return of the disease, leaving the narrator conflicted about whether to feel grateful or resentful for this information. (3m39s)
• During a night spent watching a film with the mother, who smiled for the first time in months, the narrator struggled to maintain a facade of happiness while internally grieving, knowing the worst was yet to come. (4m16s)
• Eventually, the ominous value in the blood tests reappeared, signaling the return of the disease and the beginning of the end, as forewarned by the nurse. (4m35s)

Relapse and Concealing the Truth

• Medical professionals initially indicated that there was nothing serious, but further tests were needed, leading to a sense of optimism among family members about overcoming leukemia. However, the narrator secretly knew from a nurse and later a medical expert that the remission had ended, and the chances of success were now almost nonexistent. The narrator was asked to keep this information from their mother to maintain her fighting spirit. (4m48s)
• The narrator spent weeks pretending to be optimistic, practicing facial expressions to hide the truth from their mother, who remained hopeful. They spent evenings watching movies and talking, while the narrator internally grappled with the knowledge that a new remission would not come. (6m0s)

The Transparency Dilemma and Advancements in Neuroscience

• The narrator reflects on how different those weeks and months might have been if their mother could have read their mind, raising questions about the implications of such transparency. This leads to a discussion on the advancements in neuroscience and neurotechnology, which are increasingly capable of revealing the workings of the human brain. (7m27s)
• The potential benefits of these technologies are highlighted through the example of Juliano Pinto, a Brazilian man who, after being paralyzed in a motorcycle accident, was able to kick off the 2014 World Cup in Brazil using an exoskeleton. These advancements are seen as miraculous, offering the possibility of restoring lost abilities to millions of people. (8m22s)

Neurotechnology: Miracles and Threats

• The discussion highlights the urgent need to reflect on the advancements in neuroscience and neurotechnology, which are rapidly moving from clinical settings to the market, offering solutions that can save lives and potentially create "superhumans" while threatening privacy. (9m37s)
• Technologies now allow for the reading and potential overwriting of unexpressed thoughts, with devices like the Unicorn headset, which can be purchased online and used for various applications, including controlling drones and playing video games. (10m7s)
• The Unicorn headset, available in adult and child sizes, is equipped with electrodes that can read brain activity and translate thoughts into human language or commands for devices. (11m5s)
• Another example is the Pangolin, a unique garment that changes shape and color based on the wearer's thoughts and emotions, illustrating the integration of neurotechnology into fashion. (11m32s)
• The text references Neuralink, a company associated with Elon Musk, which aims to combine therapy, market solutions, and enhancement technologies, promising to restore lost faculties and enhance natural abilities. (12m18s)

Superhumanism and the Integration of Neurotechnology

• The concept of "superhumanism" is discussed alongside the idea of enhanced humans through neuroscience and neurotechnology, projecting a societal clash between ordinary humans and superhumans. (13m4s)
• There is a mention of Elon Musk's ambitions in the realm of neurotechnology, particularly in the automotive industry, where companies are rapidly integrating these technologies. (13m33s)
• Mercedes is developing headrests equipped with neurotransmitters that could allow users to control car functions like air conditioning and music through thought alone. (13m56s)
• The potential benefits of neurotechnology are highlighted, such as therapeutic advantages and making life easier, but there is a concern about the cost of these advancements. (14m31s)

Ethical Implications and Societal Concerns

• The ethical implications of allowing governments to read citizens' minds are questioned, with a hypothetical scenario suggesting that such technology could have prevented events like the Arab Spring by identifying dissidents early. (15m22s)
• Concerns are raised about employment security if employers could access employees' thoughts, potentially leading to job loss for those who think negatively about their bosses. (15m52s)
• The idea of preemptively arresting individuals based on their thoughts, as depicted in the movie "Minority Report," is discussed, raising questions about privacy and the right to thought. (16m29s)
• The text discusses the potential impact of neuroscience and neurotechnology on personal rights and freedoms, such as the right to silence and the right to lie, especially in the context of criminal defendants. (16m53s)

The Erosion of Privacy and the Right to Thought

• It highlights the current dominance of a few major players in the marketing sector, particularly social networks, which analyze digital behavior to deduce personal information and sell it to advertisers. (17m10s)
• Concerns are raised about the future possibility of these technologies accessing and reading thoughts directly from the brain, leading to a loss of privacy and control over personal information. (18m4s)
• The text reflects on how people initially resisted social networks but eventually accepted them, raising concerns that a similar pattern could occur with neurotechnology. (18m23s)
• The concept of "mental privacy" is introduced, emphasizing the need to assert the right to control who can access one's brain and to protect cognitive freedom from external manipulation. (19m10s)
• The text questions whether society will be capable of maintaining these rights and freedoms as technology advances, acknowledging the difficulty in ensuring human existence remains sustainable while the brain becomes more accessible. (19m35s)
• It stresses the importance of recognizing the vulnerability of the brain to external access and the need to resist the temptation to accept all technological advancements as legitimate or beneficial. (19m59s)

Regulation and Education in the Age of Neurotechnology

• Guido Scorza discusses the integration of advanced technological tools, referred to as "gadgets," which have the potential to enhance human capabilities. (20m51s)
• The conversation touches on the complexity of regulating privacy, especially concerning data from the human brain, and the efforts being made by the European Union to address these challenges. (21m19s)
• There is an emphasis on the importance of educating people about the value of their data, particularly brain data, and the need for collective efforts to find solutions. (21m30s)
• Concerns are raised about the implications of accessing human thoughts, highlighting both the potential fears and the need for solutions. (21m42s)