Neurotechnologies of the Self Mind, Brain and Subjectivity
Taking care of oneself is increasingly interpreted as taking care of one’s brain. Apart from pills, books, food, and games for a better brain, people can also use neurotechnologies for self-improvement. This book explores how the use of brain devices to u
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neur ot ec h nol o g i e s of t h e s el f MIND, BRAIN AND SUBJECTIVIT Y
Neurotechnologies of the Self
Jonna Brenninkmeijer
Neurotechnologies of the Self Mind, Brain and Subjectivity
Jonna Brenninkmeijer University of Groningen Groningen, The Netherlands
ISBN 978-1-137-53385-2 ISBN 978-1-137-53386-9 DOI 10.1057/978-1-137-53386-9
(eBook)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016941103 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2016 The author(s) has/have asserted their right(s) to be identified as the author(s) of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Cover illustration: Cover image © Marc Woldering Printed on acid-free paper This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Macmillan Publishers Ltd. London
Preface and Acknowledgments
This book explores how the use of neurotechnologies to understand or improve the self influences people’s subjectivity. The figure on the cover of this book aims to illustrate this effect. When you take a close look at the picture, you will see that the person is made of brainwaves and neurons. When you take a closer look, you will see brain maps (qEEGs: the round heads), and also computer chips. And when you look very closely, you can see family trees and mandalas. This assemblage of brain entities, technical elements, environmental influences, and spiritual accents nicely illustrates the main argument of this book: working on the self by working on the brain does not reduce the self to the brain, but extends the self. Especially in the case of neurofeedback, a brainwave therapy, the self is extended with a brain, and with various physiological, psychological, material, and sometimes spiritual entities that all start working upon the person’s feelings, problems, and lives. This ‘new self ’ is not static or fixed, and therefore the figure on the cover has no clear borders. I would l
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