A portmanteau of “neuro” (neuroscience) and “fication” (making into), meaning the reduction of human experience, behavior, and society to
brain processes. Neurofication is the program of replacing psychological, social, and cultural explanations with neural ones. It includes neuroeconomics (explaining markets with
brain scans), neurolaw (judging responsibility by
brain imaging), and neuroeducation (designing teaching based on
brain activity). Critics argue that neurofication is a form of reductionist imperialism: it colonizes other disciplines by claiming that only the neural level is “
real.” It also ignores that brains develop in bodies, bodies in environments, and environments in history.
Neurofication Example: “The neurofication of criminology led to proposals for
brain‑based
lie detectors and ‘dangerous mind’ scans. Critics warned that this would
target minorities and ignore social causes of crime.”