Mind Control? Fear and Media Portrayal of 'Brain Pacemakers'

Abstract

Commonly called a ‘brain pacemaker’, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a type of therapy involving the surgical implantation of a device into the brain. Research findings on DBS frequently find their way into the media. In the media, scientific information is often ‘translated’ so as to become accessible to lay people. Scientists must expect emotional reactions when delivering their work to a lay public. In the case of health issues, fear is certainly one of the foremost reactions. Precise fears and overall anxieties may also shape the way information is understood and contribute to the forming of opinions. These opinions might be relevant to decisions about oneself, one’s body or the general orientation of medical research; therefore, having an impact on medical policies themselves. This chapter will highlight what types of fear are expressed in relation to neuromodulation and which function they fulfil. Beyond poor quality journalism aiming for sensation and beyond fear-induced conservative stances, fear may be of relevance in the cognitive apprehension of complex scientific data. Based on the case of DBS, this chapter will tackle questions such as: Can fear of medical research and care be considered in ways other than legitimate or irrational? What role does fear play in processing elaborate information? To what extent can lay people’s fear have a constructive impact on a scientific field?