At the frontier of scientific exploration, few fields captivate the imagination like neurotechnology. With its promise to decode the mysteries of the nervous system, neurotech holds the potential to revolutionize how we treat disease, enhance human capabilities, and better understand ourselves. Achieving these breakthroughs is not about taking small steps, but daring to leap and embarking on moonshots that challenge deeply held assumptions to push the boundaries of possibility. However, we must be mindful of the human tendency for old ideas to lead to confirmation bias. This can limit our ability to see beyond current assumptions in creating better applications.
It’s a dogma-eat-dogma world
The history of neuroscience is replete with examples of long-held beliefs that were eventually overturned. Examples include the “single neurotransmitter dogma” that each neuron produces only one type of neurotransmitter, or the “static adult brain myth” that adult brains do not grow new neurons. These serve as reminders of the importance to challenge established beliefs and remain open to new possibilities. To achieve moonshot breakthroughs in neurotechnology, we must question the very foundations of knowledge. Current paradigms, no matter how established, should be scrutinized with a critical eye.
Strategies to facilitate disruptive innovation
1. Create a space open to new ideas
To foster truly innovative moonshots in neurotechnology, we must create intellectual and experimental spaces for new ideas to flourish. This requires a willingness to challenge current limitations and question beliefs or assumptions that may be preventing exploration of new avenues. For example, are we overly focused on neuron-centric models at the expense of understanding the role of glial cells in cognition? And, if so, are we using the understanding of different types of neurons to develop more precise and effective treatment options? Keeping these nuances of cells in mind may enable more seamless integration with the nervous system while keeping it in balance.
We must also embrace complexity and recognize that biological systems, especially the human brain, operate in intricate and nonlinear ways. This calls for interdisciplinary approaches that can capture this complexity, such as integrating insights from chaos theory, network science, or quantum biology.
Researchers must also be open to exploring alternative paradigms and actively pursue other explanations or mechanisms for observed phenomena. For example, whether consciousness can arise from quantum effects in microtubules within neurons, as proposed by Hameroff and Penrose’s Orch-OR theory.
2. Hold onto ideas, but not too hard
It is crucial to cultivate a mindset of intellectual humility and flexibility, in order to avoid the pitfalls of confirmation bias and dogma. Constantly questioning our own assumptions and probing potential flaws in our theories, can identify blind spots in our thinking and open new avenues for exploration. At the same time, encouraging constructive skepticism can foster a research culture that values and rewards thoughtful criticism and alternative viewpoints, rather than confirmatory results.
We must also be open to considering multiple hypotheses and actively explore alternative explanations or mechanisms, no matter how unlikely they may seem at first. This approach, the method of multiple working hypotheses, can lead to unexpected insights and breakthroughs. One example is in neuroplasticity. Despite the Hebbian rule of “cells that fire together wire together,” staying open to the possibility of other forms of plasticity has allowed people to find that there are other plasticity rules, such as anti-Hebbian and homeostatic plasticity. With multiple ways for the nervous system to undergo changes, these mechanisms might be leveraged for therapeutic development.
3. Embrace an integrative approach inside and out
Embracing an integrative approach to neurotech can open a new frontier of innovation and the introduction of groundbreaking solutions to address neurological disorders and advance human health. By recognizing the intricate connections between the brain and other bodily systems, such as the gut-brain axis and neuroimmune interactions, we can develop more holistic and effective interventions.
This approach, leveraging insights from bioelectricity, the autonomic nervous system and neurocardiology, can create comprehensive solutions that address the complex interplay between neural and physiological processes. This presents an unprecedented opportunity for neurotech innovators and entrepreneurs to tap into previously unexplored markets, positioning their organizations at the forefront of a transformative wave in medical technology and human augmentation.
Neurotechnology is inherently interdisciplinary, encompassing a wide range of disciplines, including biomedical engineering, computation, and interaction design. Many discoveries and innovations in neuroscience came about through bringing perspectives from other fields. For example, Sonera and NeuroBionics are both leveraging advances in materials science, specifically magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to improve neural interfaces. While MRI developments did not begin in neuroscience, its origins in physics, engineering, and radiology have helped to chart the nervous system.
Daring to question deeply held beliefs and dreaming big can pave the way for extraordinary advancements – moonshots for those willing to break from conventional thinking and chart new paths into the unexplored territories of the human mind and brain.
Charting the course for moonshots
The next great leap in neurotechnology may not come from incremental improvements to existing approaches, but a paradigm shift that completely reframes how we think about the brain and mind. These strategies offer a framework to push the boundaries of possibility. Challenging ourselves to question assumptions, explore alternative explanations, and collaborate across disciplines in unprecedented ways can open up the possibility of new breakthroughs. These moonshots may revolutionize our understanding of the brain, leading to transformative treatments for a range of neurological and psychiatric conditions.
This article was originally published on February 2nd, 2025, via DotMed