Why neuroscience is not ready to guide brain-based policymaking
By
New Scientist
Summary
This article critically examines the growing trend of policymakers turning to neuroscience to inform laws and policies, arguing that the science is not yet mature enough for such applications. It uses the example of varying legal ages of adulthood (16 to 21 across different countries) to illustrate how neuroscience cannot provide clear-cut answers about brain development stages. The piece warns against oversimplifying complex brain states into neat categories for governance purposes, emphasizing that the brain's energy-saving shortcuts and subconscious decision-making processes resist such tidy classifications.
Source
Twitter / XWhy neuroscience is not ready to guide brain-based policymakingnewscientist.comKey quotes
· 4 pulledOur brains love shortcuts.
Decisions are often made via a subconscious muddling through, due to the brain's desire to minimise energy use.
It is perhaps why we value neat categorisations of someone's brain state, despite these being flawed.
Some call for this tension to be smoothed by asking policy-makers to c...
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