A Roadmap to Define the Neurobiological Mechanisms of Political Conflict
Dates:
December 15-16, 2008
Location:
FDIC Training Center
(L. William Seidman Center)
Arlington, VA
Supported by:
Claus M. Halle Institute for Global Learning
Air Force Office of Scientific Research
The Problem
Given the global prominence of political conflict, it is important to understand how these conflicts are intertwined with both individual and collective decision making (e.g. individual and state-sponsored terrorism). Traditionally, these types of investigations have been the purview of the intelligence and military communities, and academically, anthropology and sociology. However, recent advances in neuroscience make it possible to use brain imaging technology to uncover biological constraints in the brain and neural pathways associated with political decision making. At its core, a brain-based approach views political conflict, especially violent conflict, as fundamentally a physiological event. Mapping these physiological systems may yield new insights into provocative factors and new approaches to model political conflict as well as non-kinetic methods that could mediate these reactions.
By way of definition, political conflict will refer to both individual (e.g. terrorism) and state-sponsored conflicts across political, economic and military domains.
The Objective
The purpose of this meeting is to bring together experts in the neuroscience of decision making (neuroeconomics) and experts on military and political conflict to define a roadmap for applying neurobiological discovery to political, economic, and military policy solutions. The meeting will identify:
- Domains of political conflict that potentially have their origin in brain-based systems.
- How ideology and culture become embedded in brain-based systems.
- High priority research directions to bridge neuroscience with the study of political conflict.
- Potential interfaces between brain-based approaches with economic, political, and military policies.
Interested in attending?
For more information, please email evan dot goldberg at emory dot edu.