Military Neuroscience And The Coming Age Of Neurowarfare (emerging Technologies, Ethics And International Affairs)

Krishnan describes military applications of neuroscience research and emerging neurotechnology with relevance to the conduct of armed conflict and law enforcement. This work builds upon literature by scholars such as Moreno and Giordano and fills an existing gap, not only in terms of reviewing available and future neurotechnologies and relevant applications, but by discussing how the military pursuit of these technologies fits into the overall strategic context. The first to sketch future neurowarfare by looking at its potentials as well as its inherent limitations, this book’s main theme is how military neuroscience will enhance and possibly transform both classical psychological operations and cyber warfare. Its core argument is that nonlethal strategies and tactics could become central to warfare in the first half of the twenty-first century. This creates both humanitarian opportunities in making war less bloody and burdensome as well as some unprecedented threats and dangers in terms of preserving freedom of thought and will in a coming age where minds can be manipulated with great precision. Cover -- Half Title -- Series Information -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of tables -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- 1 Introduction -- 1.1 Advances in neuroscience -- 1.2 Large-scale government brain initiatives -- 1.2.1 The BRAIN initiative -- 1.2.2 The Human Brain Project and similar projects -- 1.2.3 The military interest in neuroscience -- 1.2.4 DARPA and other acknowledged military neuroscience projects -- 1.3 The scope of the book -- 1.3.1 The concept of the 'neuroweapon' -- 1.3.2 Related areas and other definitions -- 1.4 Chapter overview