What is biohacking?

WHAT IS BIOHACKING?

Biohacking is the optimization of performance, health and well-being by utilizing science, technology and a deep understanding of human physiology and biology. Biohacking is also an art unto itself, the “sculpture” of which is the individual.

At the core of biohacking is the concept that increasing health is cheaper and more profitable than treating illness. This is also known as preventive health care. This approach taps into the knowledge of scientists, theorists, and practical implementers. The goal is to systematically identify what brings the best results for yourself as an individual.

BIOHACKING AND SYSTEMS THINKING

A human being is an entity that consists of various systems. The goal of biohacking is to understand how these systems work. Biohacking might be compared to cybernetics (Greek kybernetike, “the art of navigation”) which involves the study of automatic control systems. To understand the cybernetic system, it is important to grasp the concepts of input, process, output and feedback.

Biological organisms feature autoregulation mechanisms through which the organism strives for equilibrium or homeostasis. The human organ systems involve various negative and positive feedback systems that regulate the optimal balance of many hormones in the body.

The optimization of physiological health involves balancing both the lower levels of the system (such as nutrition, mitochondria and microbiome) as well as the higher levels (such as social relations and the environment). In the spirit of the Pareto principle, systems thinking can be used to identify the 20% of the input that produces 80% of the results.

SELF-MEASURING INCREASES SELF KNOWLEDGE

The focus is on the individual who is both the subject and object of measuring (n=1). The main method besides data collection is data analysis and comparison with other factors. Self-measuring produces data that is meaningless without the explaining context. The numbers are visualized and may be edited for easy comparison with data produced by other people. Collective data collected on individuals can also be called “Big Data”.

Biohacking does not equal or require self-measuring. Biohacking involves perceiving the human being and implementing change to this entire system. Self-measuring on the one hand may provide a means for setting hypotheses and analyzing personal test results. Biohacking is a much wider concept than self-measuring. In an ideal situation measuring becomes redundant as the individual can decipher the signals produced by their body and change their behavioral patterns accordingly. However, due to its feedback loops, self-measuring may accelerate learning.

Aspects of "quantified self" and self-measuring:

Self-measuring involves self-monitoring via various sensors connected to a smartphone
Self-measuring involves “dataism”, the concept of the data being an important tool in self-development
Self-measuring highlights the visualization of data and the perception of causal relationships
Feedback loops created by monitoring devices may help change behavior
Transparency and sociability are emphasized in data collection and sharing
The goal of measuring may not be optimization – it can be a way to ask oneself new questions
Data collection and visualization may also be a means for self-expression