An unprecedented examination of national security and brain research, Mind Wars probes into how security entities and federal defense agencies have turned to complex physiological methods of gaining an advantage over their enemies through manipulation of the body’s nervous system. Mind Wars reveals that neuropharmacology, neural imaging, and communications between human brains and machines are only a few of the projects invested in by the military and security establishment to prepare for a new century of unknown threats around the globe. One of the nation’s most distinguished bio-ethicists, Moreno explores the complex ethical and policy issues posed by these and many other developments, demonstrating that there are many more questions than answers in this gray intersection of science and government. He ultimately challenges his scientific colleagues to look beyond the lab and grapple with the unintended consequences of their research. 

“As new kinds of weapons are added to the arsenal already at the disposal of fallible human leaders,” Moreno writes, “we need to find new ways to address the problem.” Mind Wars offers a guide to finding such solutions, making this book essential reading for our uncertain times.

From neuropharmacology to neural imaging to brain-machine interface devices that relay images and sounds between human brains and machines, Moreno shows how national security entities seek to harness the human nervous system in a multitude of ways as a potent weapon against the enemy soldier. Moreno charts such projects as monkeys moving robotic arms with their minds, technology to read the brains thought patterns at a distance, the development of "anti-sleep" drugs to enhance soldiers battle performance and others to dampen their emotional reactions to the violence, and advances that could open the door to "neuroweapons"virus-transported molecules to addle the brain.

"As new kinds of weapons are added to the arsenal already at the disposal of fallible human leaders," Moreno writes, "we need to find new ways to address the problem"--of the ethical military application of so powerful and intimate a science. This book is the first step in confronting the quandaries inherent in this partnership of government and neuroscience, serves as a compelling wake-up call for scientists and citizens, and suggests that, with imagination, we might meet the needs of both security and civil liberty.