Neurosocialities: Anthropological Engagements with the Neurosciences

Over the last three decades, the neurosciences have emerged as a prestigious and influential force in industrial society research. In an ascendance that in many ways parallels that of genomics, the neurosciences have been championed as a valuable source of information into “that which makes us human,” and as a potential source of much-needed therapeutic interventions for a range of disorders, and new technologies for enhancing cognitive, emotional and social skills. Vast financial and symbolic resources have been invested in both “small” and “big science” projects, including the US’s vast BRAIN Initiative and the EU’s Human Brain Project. In popular culture, public fascination with the “neuro” is illustrated by a profusion of accessible popular writings on the brain, the prevalence of MRI and PET brain images in media, and the emergence of gurus in diverse fields such as “neurobusiness,” who claim, for example, to use neuroscience to enhance business acumen (e.g. NBI 2016).