Military Neuroscience and the Coming Age of Neurowarfare

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, a main theme of the book will be 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 21st century. This creates both humanitarian opportunities in making war less bloody and burdensome and also some unprecedented threats and dangers in terms of preserving freedom of thought and freedom of will in a coming age where minds can be manipulated with great precision.

Armin Krishnan, East Carolina University, USA