Emerging Cognitive Neuroscience and Related Technologies

Emerging Cognitive Neuroscience and Related Technologies, from the National Research Council, identifies and explores several specific research areas that have implications for U.S. national security, and should therefore be monitored consistently by the intelligence community. These areas include:

1. neurophysiological advances in detecting and measuring indicators of psychological states and intentions of individuals
2. the development of drugs or technologies that can alter human physical or cognitive abilities
3. advances in real-time brain imaging
4. breakthroughs in high-performance computing and neuronal modeling that could allow researchers to develop systems which mimic functions of the human brain, particularly the ability to organize disparate forms of data.

As these fields continue to grow, it will be imperative that the intelligence community be able to identify scientific advances relevant to national security when they occur. To do so will require adequate funding, intelligence analysts with advanced training in science and technology, and increased collaboration with the scientific community, particularly academia.

A key tool for the intelligence community, this book will also be a useful resource for the health industry, the military, and others with a vested interest in technologies such as brain imaging and cognitive or physical enhancers.

• Front Matter
• Summary
• 1 The Big Picture: Bridging the Science and Technology for the Decision Maker
• 2 Current Cognitive Neuroscience Research and Technology: Selected Areas of Interest
• 3 Emerging Areas of Cognitive Neuroscience and Neurotechnologies
• 4 Cultural and Ethical Underpinnings of Social Neuroscience
• 5 Potential Intelligence and Military Applications of Cognitive Neuroscience and Related Technologies
• Appendix A Biographical Sketches of Committee Members
• Appendix B: Meetings and Speakers
• Appendix C: Committee Methodology
• Appendix D: Background Information on Functional Neuroimaging
• Appendix E: Background Information on Neuroethics
• Appendix F: True and False Memories as an Illustrative Case of the Difficulty of Developing Accurate and Practical Neurophysiological Indexes of Psychological States