The Sci-Fi Brain : Narratives in Neuroscience and Popular Culture

The connection between neuroscience, popular media and lay perceptions of thebrain involves the framing of complex scientific processes and results throughfamiliar cultural narratives and metaphors. Such narratives are often built onthe premise that neuroscience, with the help of powerful new technologies,will finally solve the mysteries of brain and mind, consciousness and morality.At the same time, popular culture—especially the science fiction genre—tendsto focus on worst case scenarios of the implementation of technology. Thisarticle explores cultural narratives of what the brain is and how it functions intwo different contexts—among neuroscientists and within popular culture. Inparticular, narratives about technology and the malleable brain as well as thenotion of the mad scientist are studied. The article explores how these narrativesare presented and used in popular culture and how neuroscientists relate to thenarratives when describing their work. There is a contrast, but also a blurring ofboundaries, between actual research carried out and the fictional portrayals ofscientists constructing, or altering, fully functional brains. To some extent, thenarratives serve as a background for the public’s understanding of, and attitudetowards, neuroscience—something that must be taken into consideration whendealing with the therapeutic treatment of patients. The narratives of neurosciencein popular culture are to a certain degree shaped by actual scientific practices andfindings, but neuroscience is also influenced by laypeople’s perceptions, whichoften have their roots in the narratives of popular culture