Resisting the revelatory scanner? Critical engagements with fMRI in popular media

摘要: Functional neuroimaging is charged with revealing thoughts and intentions, the source of mental dysfunction, basis fundamental human traits. Critics have argued that situating mind in a brain scan risks essentializing contested social psychiatric categories, encourages deterministic perspectives, diverts attention from non-biological ways understanding mind. Here, I review these critical discourses ask whether they are reflected popular media, through discourse analysis print online reports functional research deriving primarily United Kingdom. In contrast to earlier studies, found diverse challenges expertise scanner, ranging explicit polemic assertions lay expertise. Brain images themselves were often manipulated, mislabelled or omitted favour photographic representations function, posing new questions about rhetorical power scan. These findings caution against premature conclusions concerning reductive impact popularized neuroimages, but also argue for regarding reach novelty engagements observed. Finally, qualitative media texts essential developing surrounding neuroimaging, discuss possible implications science communication public engagement practice.