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Neuroeconomics, neuromarketing, neuroaesthetics, and neurotheology are just a few of the novel disciplines that have been inspired by a combination of ancient knowledge together with recent discoveries about how the human brain works. The mass media are full of news items featuring colour photos of the brain, that show us the precise location in which a certain thought or emotion, or even love occurs, hence leading us to believe that we can directly observe, with no mediation, the brain at work. But is this really so? Even throughout the developed world, the general public has been seduced into believing that any study, research article, or news report, accompanied by a brain image or two is more reliable and more scientific, than one featuring more mundane illustrations.This fascinating, accessible, and thought provoking new book questions our obsession with brain imaging. Written by two highly experienced psychologists, it discusses some of the familiar ideas usually associated wtih mind-body, brain-psyche, and nature-culture relationships, showing how the biased and unquestioning use of brain imaging technology could have significant cultural effects for all of us.
This book investigates the validity of neuro-centric explanations for human behavior and the cultural implications of our reliance on brain imaging technology. The authors, both experienced psychologists, analyze how the public and media interpret neuroscientific data, arguing that the visual appeal of brain scans often obscures the limitations of the underlying research. By examining the intersection of mind, body, and culture, the text challenges the assumption that brain imaging provides a direct, unmediated view of human thought and emotion.
What You Will Find
Experts and readers frequently cite this work as a necessary counter-narrative to the popularization of neuroscience in the media. The text is noted for its accessible prose, which effectively bridges the gap between complex psychological theory and public discourse.
Page Count:
144
Publication Date:
2011-05-26
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0199591342
ISBN-13:
9780199591343
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