Scientists have been working on ways to decode brain activity for decades. Teams have developed brain implants that can be used to control robotic limbs and computers, and even to “speak.” The people who volunteer for trials of those devices play a vital role in that research, and they ought to be recognized for their contributions, says Ian Burkhart , who had one implanted in his own brain back in 2014. He’s been working on a set of guidelines for researchers developing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). Ethics guidelines for clinical trials already exist. But BCI trials are different, says Jennifer Chandler, a professor of law and neuroethics at the University of Ottawa who also worked on the guidelines. “These are people who have a device embedded in their brain, are in trials sometimes for years and years … [and contribute] a significant investment of time, of the body, and of intellectual effort.” Burkhart was left paralyzed from the chest down following a diving accident in 2010, when he was 19 years old. Around four years later, he volunteered to become the first person to trial a brain implant designed for hand control. He had an array of 96 electrodes inserted into the part of his brain that controls movement. The electrodes were connected to a computer via a cable that essentially plugged into his head. Algorithms on the computer were designed to interpret those signals and deliver them to another sleeve of electrodes worn on Burkhart’s arm, allowing him to control it . The first movements were small, but Burkhart was ultimately able to use the system to pour beads from bottles, move small and delicate objects, and even play Guitar Hero, if only during lab visits. It was a scientific breakthrough . Burkhart took part in two years-long clinical trials over the seven-and-a-half-year period he had the electrode array implanted in his brain. “It was a fantastic experience,” he says. “But there’s certainly some things that, knowing what I know now, I would want to do a little differently.” In 2022, Burkhart cofounded BCI Pioneers Coalition —an organization through which people who have taken part in BCI trials can share their experiences, both with each other and with researchers. Over the last year, members of the group have been developing a set of guidelines based on those experiences. The idea is to help academics, clinicians, and companies run ethical trials that respect participants’ autonomy. The guidelines, published on Tuesday , lay out a list of recommendations that fall within 13 categories. One, for example, focuses on recognizing and compensating trial participants. During the trials that Burkhart participated in, “I was going into the lab two or three days a week, for four hours at a time,” he recalls. “That’s [easily] a part-time job if you just count the hours you’re putting in.” As the trial progressed, Burkhart says, he learned more and was able to give more constructive feedback on what was working and what wasn’t. He says he was a key member of the research team. Others who find themselves in a similar position might appreciate being listed as a coauthor on scientific publications or publicly named as a research collaborator, he says. Burkhart and his colleagues acknowledge that not everyone will want this, however. The guidelines also address the thorny question of privacy…