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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Neurosci.
Sec. Neural Technology
Volume 18 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1278640
This article is part of the Research Topic Neurotechnology: state-of-the art, perspectives and research along the lines of dimensions and neurochallenges that NeurotechEU introduces to characterize the field View all 19 articles

From Mary Shelley to Netflix: A Pan-European Perspective on Public Communication of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology

Provisionally accepted
  • Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche, Spain

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Scientific knowledge of the human brain has captivated the public's attention and sparked their imagination for centuries. Comprehending the inner workings of the mind and the underlying molecular and physiological aspects of the central nervous system has long been the defining theme of contemporary Western scientific culture. Even as the focus has arguably shifted towards genomics in the early 21st century, the brain continues to hold the spotlight in science communication, perhaps bolstered by the hype surrounding Artificial Intelligence. Neuroscience and neurotechnology, with their connections to culture, identity, economic progress, and health, remain subjects of fascination for people of all ages who seek to understand the present and future implications of research in these fields. In this work, we explore ten distinct ways of communication dealing with the subject of the brain, the mind, applied neurotechnology, and what makes us, and possibly other things, human. We examine European literature, material culture, and various film formats to gain insights into these captivating subjects. Instances like Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" exemplify the historical fear of science. At the same time, TED Talks and documentaries have emerged as influential platforms for scientific communication. The intersection between art and brain imaging helps visualise abstract concepts. The gamification of thought experiments is an accessible tool for the public to understand complex cognitive phenomena. And, despite a lack of accuracy, science fiction can spark public debates on ethical issues involving the conscience of robots or the privacy of our brain data.

    Keywords: science communication1, neuroscience communication2, scientific culture3, cultural impact of science4, neuroscience in film5, neuroscience in art6. Neuroscience in children's literature7, history of neuroscience8. (Min.5-Max. 8

    Received: 16 Aug 2023; Accepted: 08 May 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Gallar and Lara. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Angeles Gallar, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche, Spain

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.