The brain as an agentic system: how the brain is articulated in the field of neuroenhancement

Sociology of Health & Illness
Jonna Brenninkmeijer

Abstract

This article analyses the material of a European Project on Responsible Research and Innovation in Neuroenhancement (NERRI) to explore how the brain is articulated in this field. Since brains are closely connected to ideas of self, responsibility, free will and being human, and since brain metaphors have important effects on research practices and perspectives, it also matters how people talk about and use the brain. In the NERRI project, the brain is articulated as an agent interacting with or substituting the self; as a system that can, cannot or should not be analysed; and as the part of oneself that can potentially change human nature in positive and negative ways. Since most of the material analysed was produced by neuroscientists or other neuroenhancement experts, this article emphasises the responsibility of the experts in this process. By showing what brain images are disseminated within the field of neuroenhancement, and analysing how this depiction is related to ideas of self or being human, this article does not only intend to contribute to a more empirically based and societally relevant neuroenhancement debate, but also to a more realistic and societally relevant idea of the brain.

References

Jul 21, 2004·The British Journal of Sociology·T Osborne, N Rose
Sep 20, 2005·Bioethics·Nick Bostrom
Oct 3, 2007·Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics·L L E Bolt
May 16, 2009·Current Opinion in Urology·Carlos Martins da Silva, Francisco Cruz
Jun 23, 2009·Science and Engineering Ethics·Nick Bostrom, Anders Sandberg
Oct 29, 2009·History of the Human Sciences·Fernando Vidal
Jun 4, 2010·History of the Human Sciences·Jonna Brenninkmeijer
Oct 27, 2010·Health·Victoria Pitts-Taylor
Jun 22, 2011·Sociology of Health & Illness·Simon J WilliamsStephen Katz
Jan 20, 2012·Social Science & Medicine·Suparna ChoudhuryMoritz Merten
Jun 29, 2012·Sociology of Health & Illness·Christian Bröer, Marjolijn Heerings
Jul 9, 2013·Public Understanding of Science·Cliodhna O'Connor, Helene Joffe
Mar 21, 2015·Social Science & Medicine·Tineke Broer, Martyn Pickersgill
Sep 12, 2017·Neuroethics·Jonna Brenninkmeijer, Hub Zwart
Dec 1, 2017·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Russell A PoldrackJoshua W Buckholtz

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

NERRI

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Issues in Mental Health Nursing
Sandra P Thomas
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
Peter G Smith
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved