The Library
Neuroscience and medicalisation : sociological reflections on memory, medicine and the brain
Tools
Williams, Simon J., Katz, Stephen and Martin, Paul (2011) Neuroscience and medicalisation : sociological reflections on memory, medicine and the brain. In: Pickersgill, Martyn and Van Keulen, Ira, (eds.) Sociological Reflections on the Neurosciences. Advances in Medical Sociology (No.13). Bingley: Emerald, pp. 231-254. ISBN 9781848558809
Research output not available from this repository.
Request-a-Copy directly from author or use local Library Get it For Me service.
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/S1057-6290(2011)00000130...
Abstract
This chapter takes a critical look at the sociological notion of ‘medicalisation’ in relation to recent trends and developments in neuroscience, neurotechnology and society, taking memory, medicine and the brain as our prime focus and the disease category of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as our empirical case study. Five relational nexuses in particular are identified as relevant to these developments and debates, namely the bio-psych nexus, the pharma-psych nexus, the selves-subjectivity nexus, the wellness-enhancement nexus, and the neuroculture-neurofuture nexus. We show that developments in memory medicine and the shifting boundaries of cognitive health, as embodied and expressed in the case of MCI, shed further valuable light on these issues and the interconnectivity of these relational nexuses. As an emergent disease and susceptibility category, MCI illuminates not only the fuzzy boundaries between normal and abnormal cognitive functioning, but also the working of neuroscientific, neurocultural and pharmacological interests, which, in this case, are already claiming MCI as the next locus of enhancing the mind and optimising aging. Thinking both within and beyond medicalisation challenges us to find new ways to critically understand the ideas about life and health as they travel, translate or migrate from (neuro)scientific and clinical spheres to cultural life and patient experience.
Item Type: | Book Item | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HM Sociology | ||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Sociology | ||||
Series Name: | Advances in Medical Sociology | ||||
Publisher: | Emerald | ||||
Place of Publication: | Bingley | ||||
ISBN: | 9781848558809 | ||||
ISSN: | 1057-6290 | ||||
Book Title: | Sociological Reflections on the Neurosciences | ||||
Editor: | Pickersgill, Martyn and Van Keulen, Ira | ||||
Official Date: | 2011 | ||||
Dates: |
|
||||
Number: | No.13 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 231-254 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1108/S1057-6290(2011)0000013014 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published |
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
View Item |